Traveling through an unnamed European country on the brink of war, sickly, intellectual Ester, her sister Anna and Anna's young son, Johan, check into a near-empty hotel. A basic inability to communicate among the three seems only to worsen during their stay. Anna provokes her sister by enjoying a dalliance with a local man, while the boy, left to himself, has a series of enigmatic encounters that heighten the growing air of isolation.

Ingrid Thulin
as Ester

Gunnel Lindblom
as Anna

Birger Malmsten
as Bartender

Håkan Jahnberg
as Hotel Steward

Jörgen Lindström
as Johan

Kotti Chave
as Officer in the Train Compartment

Lissi Alandh
as Woman in Variety Hall (uncredited)

Leif Forstenberg
as Man in Variety Hall (uncredited)

Eskil Kalling
as Bar Owner (uncredited)

Karl-Arne Bergman
as Paperboy (uncredited)
CinemaSerf
Though they are travelling together through an un-named country, there appears to be little love lost between the poorly “Ester” (Ingrid Thulin) and her younger sister “Anna” (Gunnel Lindblom) who also has her young son “Johan” (Jörgen Lindstrom) in tow, too. Even though “Ester” is a linguist, she d...