Winter Light

A weary pastor whose professional composure masks a deepening spiritual crisis. He grapples with guilt from the past, a chilling sense of isolation, and the fear that he has little to offer in the face of human cruelty and unanswered prayers. His journey moves from attempted guidance toward a reluctant acceptance of existential emptiness.

Karin’s husband, and a man whose faith has been tested to its breaking point. He reveals that his belief was a vanity and confesses a profound sense of abandonment, culminating in a suicide that redefines the town’s emotional landscape. His memory and choices haunt the other characters’ paths.

Jonas’s pregnant wife who carries the fear of what the future holds for her family. She witnesses the unraveling of faith around her and must navigate shock, worry, and the impact of Jonas’s death on their unborn child. Her reaction grounds the film’s emotional stakes in ordinary life.

The substitute teacher and Tomas’s confidante whose warmth masks a complex longing. She loves Tomas yet remains steadfast as she confronts the distance between them. Her presence tests loyalty, faith, and the capacity to endure gossip and heartbreak.

The handicapped sexton who engages Tomas in questions about the Passion and the purpose of religious rituals. He represents a pragmatic, probing voice about suffering and meaning, challenging the value of performing faith when no one shows up.

The organist who navigates the quiet tension of the vestry and offers practical counsel about Märta’s place in town. His presence underscores the communal dimension of worship and the struggle to sustain tradition amid doubt.

A widow who unexpectedly arrives to inform Tomas and Märta of Jonas’s death. Her practical, unflinching delivery contrasts with the town’s paralyzing grief and pushes the characters toward new decisions.