Famed stage actress Elisabeth Vogler (Liv Ullmann) suffers a moment of blankness during a performance and the next day lapses into total silence. Advised by her doctor to take time off to recover from what appears to be an emotional breakdown, she goes to a beach house on the Baltic Sea with only Anna (Bibi Andersson), a nurse, as company. Over the next several weeks, as Anna struggles to reach her mute patient, the two women find themselves experiencing a strange emotional convergence.

Ranked number 13 in the BFI directors’ top 100 films of all time.

Try and make it to the MLC Librairie Café for 6.45 to get a drink and have a chat, then we'll have a brief introduction to the director and film, and start the film promptly shortly after 7.00, with time afterwards to discuss. Please do try to be on time out of respect for others watching the film.

As usual, the film will be shown in the original version with English subtitles. Although there is no cost to this screening, I will ask you to buy a 1 Franc raffle ticket in order to have the chance of taking the DVD home with you. It is also helpful to Francis, whose premises we are using, if you buy a drink.