A Woman’s Face

A Woman’s Face

Year: 1938

Runtime: 104 mins

Language: Swedish

Director: Gustaf Molander

CrimeDrama

A cynical, disfigured woman entrenched in crime seizes a chance at redemption when a compassionate plastic surgeon offers her reconstructive surgery. Assuming a new appearance, she attempts to abandon her former life, only to find her past associates tracking her, endangering the fragile fresh start she seeks.

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Timeline & Setting – A Woman’s Face (1938)

Explore the full timeline and setting of A Woman’s Face (1938). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Interwar period

The events unfold in the interwar era, with World War I casting a shadow over the characters and highlighting the surgeon’s wartime reconstruction skills. Social attitudes toward beauty, crime, and redemption shape the decisions characters make. The story’s timeline moves through winter moments, travel, and the prospect of starting anew abroad.

Location

Sweden, Forsa, Beijing, Beijing, China

Primarily set in Sweden, the story follows urban locations where the criminal gang operates and a hospital where Anna’s transformation begins. The action shifts north to the Consul’s estate at Forsa, a country-house setting that frames family life and social dynamics. The narrative concludes with a voyage to Beijing, signaling a new life abroad and a departure from her criminal past.

🗺️ Sweden 🏰 Estate 🚗 Travel

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:31

Main Characters – A Woman’s Face (1938)

Meet the key characters of A Woman’s Face (1938), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Anna Holm (Ingrid Bergman)

An embittered woman scarred by a facial disfigurement who turns to blackmail to survive. After a life-changing operation, she becomes beautiful and morally awakened, developing conflicting loyalties between the gang and a chance at a new life.

🎭 Disguise 💔 Trauma 💖 Transformation

Dr. Allan Wegert (Anders Henrikson)

A compassionate plastic surgeon who sees beyond Anna’s appearance and helps her rebuild her life. He heals her physically and becomes a potential partner in a future away from crime, offering a path to redemption.

🩺 Healing 💡 Redemption ❤️ Compassion

Torsten Barring (Tore Svennberg)

Leader of the criminal gang who conscripts Anna for their schemes and pressures her to participate in the murder plot. His machinations propel the central conflict, but his grip on the plan ultimately falters as events unfold.

🕯️ Manipulation ⚖️ Power 💀 Crime

Lars-Erik Barring (Göran Bernhard)

The Consul’s orphaned grandson who becomes the object of the gang’s scheme. He embodies innocence and the stakes of the family's security, and his protection becomes a key motivator for Anna’s actions.

👶 Innocence 🏰 Family 🛡️ Protection

Harald Berg (Gunnar Sjöberg)

A loyal family associate who falls for Anna and supports her through her moral crisis. He helps thwart the murder plan and endures injury in the pursuit of justice and love, ultimately choosing a hopeful future.

💖 Love 🛡️ Loyalty 🏃‍♂️ Recovery

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:31

Major Themes – A Woman’s Face (1938)

Explore the central themes of A Woman’s Face (1938), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🪞 Transformation

Anna’s initial disfigurement isolates her from society and drives her into crime. The operation by Dr. Wegert reshapes her appearance and opens the door to a new identity. The film uses physical change to explore how beauty can alter possibilities and moral choices, without erasing past scars.

❤️ Love and Redemption

Anna’s evolving feelings for Harald and the possibility of a different life test her loyalty to the gang. Her resistance to the murder plot and her growing affection point toward a path of redemption. The romance intersects with a desire for belonging, culminating in a move toward a fresh start with Wegert.

⚖️ Morality vs Crime

The gang’s blackmail and murder scheme creates persistent moral tension, pitting criminal pressure against growing conscience. Anna’s inner conflict drives her to reject the plan, marking a turning point toward ethical action. The resolution emphasizes accountability and the possibility of renewal after wrongdoing.

🎭 Identity and Society

Anna adopts a new name, Anna Paulsson, and enters the wealthy household as a governess, illustrating how appearance and status shape social acceptance. Her reintegration into respectable life is complicated by a troubled past. The film critiques beauty standards and shows how identity can be reinvented yet burdened by memory.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:31

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A Woman’s Face Summary

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A Woman’s Face Summary

A Woman’s Face Timeline

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A Woman’s Face Timeline

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A Woman’s Face (1938) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

A Woman’s Face (1938) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

A Woman’s Face (1938) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow