Interlude in the Marshland (1965)

In the expansive marshlands of Lapland, a lengthy iron ore train punctuates the stillness, its journey momentarily halted at a remote station for the much-needed lubrication of its steam locomotive. Amid the mechanical pause, brake-controller Kvist reveals his sudden decision to abandon the journey, to remain in the vast emptiness where civilization is but a distant echo. His decision confounds the stationmaster, who condemns Kvist for jeopardizing his career prospects with the company, but Kvist remains unmoved, drawn to the raw beauty of the wilderness. Embarking on foot, Kvist, brimming with a newfound sense of freedom, dances and sings along the desolate tracks. Three kilometers on, he encounters a railway minder's cottage. Borrowing a lining bar from the wary minder, Kvist ascends a nearby hill, his intentions shrouded in mystery. With calculated precision, he positions the lining bar beneath a towering boulder at the pinnacle, sending it cascading down the hillside. The spectacle draws gasps from the railway minder, who declares Kvist a madman. Unfazed, Kvist returns to his chosen sanctuary—the station—where he awaits the arrival of another ore train. His journey into the wilderness has just begun, a mesmerizing interlude in the marshland.

Interlude in the Marshland is a drama movie featuring Max von Sydow and directed by Jan Troell.

Interlude in the Marshland is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.