Winter light

Rubie 2022-01-12 08:01:36

"The Lord never speaks because he doesn't exist, it's that simple."

This is almost a church movie. From the beginning to the end, most of the scenes are in the church. The characters are the pastor and a few believers. An unbeautiful woman who loved the pastor but did not get his love or even treated her with kindness. He claimed that she only loved her deceased wife. A thin and tall man was panicked just because he read from the newspaper that China made the atomic bomb. He had listened to his wife’s persuasion and wanted to go to the pastor for some comfort, but he did not expect to see the pastor speak incoherently better than himself. Still confused, he left his wife and four sons to commit suicide in complete despair. The pastor finally felt relieved when he cried and said, "Why the Lord abandoned me". Others said that Christ was puzzled before he died, shouting "Why the Lord abandoned me?" Others suspected that when he was nailed to the cross, the pain in his heart was more than the pain in his body. It is true that the pain in his heart is the most difficult to bear.

At the end of the movie, the pastor insisted on preaching in the deserted church. The person playing the organ is a rare funny part in the film.

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Extended Reading

Winter Light quotes

  • Algot Frövik, Sexton: The passion of Christ, his suffering... Wouldn't you say the focus on his suffering is all wrong?

    Tomas Ericsson, Pastor: What do you mean?

    Algot Frövik, Sexton: This emphasis on physical pain. It couldn't have been all that bad. It may sound presumptuous of me - but in my humble way, I've suffered as much physical pain as Jesus. And his torments were rather brief. Lasting some four hours, I gather? I feel that he was tormented far worse on an other level. Maybe I've got it all wrong. But just think of Gethsemane, Vicar. Christ's disciples fell asleep. They hadn't understood the meaning of the last supper, or anything. And when the servants of the law appeared, they ran away. And Peter denied him. Christ had known his disciples for three years. They'd lived together day in and day out - but they never grasped what he meant. They abandoned him, to the last man. And he was left alone. That must have been painful. Realizing that no one understands. To be abandoned when you need someone to rely on - that must be excruciatingly painful. But the worse was yet to come. When Jesus was nailed to the cross - and hung there in torment - he cried out - "God, my God!" "Why hast thou forsaken me?" He cried out as loud as he could. He thought that his heavenly father had abandoned him. He believed everything he'd ever preached was a lie. The moments before he died, Christ was seized by doubt. Surely that must have been his greatest hardship? God's silence.

    Tomas Ericsson, Pastor: Yes...

  • Märta Lundberg, Schoolteacher: God, why have you created me so eternally dissatisfied? So frightened, so bitter? Why must I realize how wretched I am? Why must I suffer so hellishly for my insignificance? If there is a purpose to my suffering, then tell me, so I can bear my pain without complaint. I'm strong. You made me so very strong in both body and soul, but you never give me a task worthy of my strength. Give my life meaning, and I'll be your obedient slave.