Andreas, a man struggling with the recent demise of his marriage and his own emotional isolation, befriends a married couple also in the midst of psychological turmoil. In turn he meets Anna, who is grieving the recent deaths of her husband and son. She appears zealous in her faith and steadfast in her search for truth, but gradually her delusions surface. Andreas and Anna pursue a love affair, but he is unable to overcome his feelings of deep humiliation and remains disconnected. Meanwhile, the island community is victimized by an unknown person committing acts of animal cruelty.

Cast (in credits order)

• Max von Sydow (Andreas Winkelman)
• Liv Ullmann (Anna Fromm)
• Bibi Andersson (Eva Vergerus)
• Erland Josephson (Elis Vergerus)
• Erik Hell (Johan Andersson)
• Sigge Fürst (Verner)

Rest of cast listed alphabetically

• Britta Brunius (Woman in dream)
• Lars-Owe Carlberg (Police officer)
• Malin Ek (Woman in dream)
• Barbro Hiort af Ornäs (Woman in dream)
• Svea Holst (Verner's wife)
• Marianne Karlbeck (Woman in dream)
• Annika Kronberg (Katarina)
• Brita Öberg (Woman in dream)
• Brian Wikström (Police officer)
• Ingmar Bergman (Narrator (voice)) (uncredited)
• Hjördis Petterson (Johan's sister) (uncredited)