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Drama

Autumn Sonata (1978): Cast, Box Office & Plot

Autumn Sonata (1978) movie poster

Autumn Sonata is a 1978 drama directed by Ingmar Bergman, starring Ingrid Bergman as Charlotte, Liv Ullmann and Lena Nyman. It runs 1 hour 33 minutes and earned $39,031 worldwide.

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Autumn Sonata (1978) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 33m (93 min)
Director
Ingmar Bergman
Genre
Drama
Original language
Swedish
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Autumn Sonata About?

The premise of Autumn Sonata without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

After a seven‑year absence, celebrated pianist Charlotte Andergast returns to Sweden to see her estranged daughter Eva. Their fraught relationship stems from Charlotte’s decision to abandon motherhood for her career. One intense night forces them to confront buried resentments, and Charlotte is stunned to discover that Eva is also caring for Helena, Charlotte’s mentally‑impaired daughter, who has left the asylum.

Autumn Sonata Themes & Keywords

· 48 tags
  • child neglect
  • dysfunctional family
  • pianist
  • mother daughter estrangement
  • marriage
  • mother daughter relationship
  • slow cinema
  • autumn
  • terminal illness
  • talking to the camera
  • bad mother
  • female protagonist
+36 more
  • sister sister relationship
  • seizure
  • loss of son
  • letter
  • cemetery
  • reconciliation
  • forgiveness
  • guilt
  • sweden
  • eastern europe
  • scandinavia
  • eastern scandinavia
  • classical music
  • mother
  • daughter
  • domestic drama
  • tragedy drama
  • psychological drama
  • 1977
  • 1970s
  • 20th century
  • arthouse
  • reference to johann sebastian bach
  • nightmare
  • widow
  • voice over narration
  • train
  • theatrical agent
  • small town
  • invalid
  • houseguest
  • hospital
  • flashback
  • apology
  • piano
  • death of friend
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Cast & crew

Autumn Sonata Cast & Characters

Ingrid Bergman leads the cast as Charlotte, with Liv Ullmann as Eva and Lena Nyman as Helena. Directed by Ingmar Bergman; 13 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Autumn Sonata

· 9 more
From the director

More from Ingmar Bergman

More films directed by Ingmar Bergman, best-rated first: The Seventh Seal, Wild Strawberries, Persona and The Magician.

Full filmography
Plot

Autumn Sonata Plot Summary

What happens in Autumn Sonata from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 5-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Eva, [Liv Ullmann], wife of Viktor, [Halvar Björk], the village pastor, invites her mother Charlotte, [Ingrid Bergman], a world-renowned pianist who has lived a cosmopolitan life and survived several marriages, to visit her quiet rural home after seven years apart. Eva, though a capable pianist in her own right and a loving mother and caretaker, values the steadier, quieter life she has carved out as a wife and mother, especially as she tends to her disabled sister Helena, [Lena Nyman], who can only speak in fragments that Eva alone seems to understand.

Full summary

The whole story of Autumn Sonata, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Autumn Sonata Box Office

Autumn Sonata grossed $39,031 worldwide.

1978 box office

Worldwide gross

$39K

International
$38.1K
Videos

Autumn Sonata Videos

The featurette of Autumn Sonata.

Liv Ullmann on Autumn Sonata
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Autumn Sonata?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
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  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is Charlotte's profession?

Seen Autumn Sonata?

FAQ

Autumn Sonata FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, post-credit scenes and language of Autumn Sonata, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Autumn Sonata?

Autumn Sonata runs 1 hour 33 minutes (93 minutes).

When was Autumn Sonata released?

Autumn Sonata was released on October 8, 1978.

Who directed Autumn Sonata?

Autumn Sonata was directed by Ingmar Bergman.

More films by Ingmar Bergman

Who is in the cast of Autumn Sonata?

Autumn Sonata stars Ingrid Bergman as Charlotte, Liv Ullmann as Eva and Lena Nyman as Helena, among 13 credited actors.

How much did Autumn Sonata make at the box office?

Autumn Sonata grossed $39,031 worldwide.

Does Autumn Sonata have a post-credit scene?

No. Autumn Sonata has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is Autumn Sonata in?

The original language of Autumn Sonata is Swedish.

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