Linn Ullmann

After a seven-year absence, Charlotte Andergast travels to Sweden to reunite with her daughter Eva. The pair have a troubled relationship: Charlotte sacrificed the responsibilities of motherhood for a career as a classical pianist. Over an emotional night, the pair reopen the wounds of the past. Charlotte gets another shock when she finds out that her mentally impaired daughter, Helena, is out of the asylum and living with Eva.

As Agnes slowly dies of cancer, her sisters are so immersed in their own psychic pains that they are unable to offer her the support she needs.

Karl and Kristina Nilsson work on a farm in a cold and desolate area of 19th century rural Sweden. Growing privations, combined with increasing social and religious persecution, motivate the Nilssons and many of their neighbors to strike out for the United States. Following a treacherous ocean crossing and an equally grueling land passage, the emigrants find themselves in seemingly idyllic Minnesota.

A Swedish immigrant family struggles to adapt to their new life on the American frontier during the second half of the 19th century amidst civil war, native uprising and the lure of gold in California.

This behind-the-scenes documentary follows the production of Autumn Sonata, capturing rehearsals, filming sessions, and discussions during the shoot. The film presents extended observational footage of the working process led by Ingmar Bergman and the principal cast and crew.

The film is a portrait of Liv Ullmann as an actress, director, human rights activist and a private person. The shows include Liv Ullmann directed work Enskilda samtal (1987) which had a screenplay by Ingmar Bergman and acted on his parents. This forms the starting point for a portrait of her previous relationships and cooperation with the Bergmann. There are also interviews with people who worked with Liv Ullmann on Broadway and clips from some of the older movies she played in. At the end, the film shows Liv Ullmann in Bosnia where she worked for UNICEF.