The first part of Bergman's trilogy (followed by Winter Light) about God's silence. His deeply melancholic views on the human condition are reflected thru' this tale of four Swedes geographically isolated, in a summer home on a holiday island, and emotionally separated from each other in a society, rooted in Lutheran Protestanism, in which self-expression is taboo and feelings suppressed. As one of them descends into insanity the others can only gaze helplessly on. Much to be admired in Bergman's angst, but not likely to be found categorised under 'Feel Good' or 'Chick Flicks'. Stark.