Early on, there's a memorable sequence where a horse-drawn hearse gets its wheel stuck between the curb and a lamppost. The horses keep pulling forward, the wheel comes loose, and a coffin is left exposed in an empty street. Someone approaches the coffin to find the person inside still alive – it turns out to be "Dr. Borg" (Victor Sjöström). It could be seen as symbolic, but I found it amusing, as did much of this st…

The film contemplates weighty themes like existence and the progression of moments. A strong ensemble appears, many of whom recur in other films by Bergman, with particularly memorable portrayals coming from Ingrid Thulin and Victor Sjöström.