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.

A melancholy meditation on the unresolvable tension between parent and child, Autumn Sonata is a fitting swan song for the great Ingrid Bergman.

'Autumn Sonata' delivers devastating emotional power through Ingrid Bergman and Liv Ullmann's exceptional performances, exploring the painful mother-daughter relationship with profound psychological depth. The complex characters and intimate examination of family trauma resonate as universally relatable and thought-provoking. However, some find the extensive theatrical dialogue overwrought and the film emotionally draining rather than engaging. While many consider it Bergman's masterwork, others struggle to connect with its intense, speech-heavy approach, admiring the craftsmanship more than enjoying the experience.