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Petter, who is in his early twenties, has left university in Oslo and broken off his engagement. He is returning home to the small town where he grew up to spend Christmas with his mother, who is a widow. On the train he meets a school-teacher, Eva, and they are strongly attracted to each other. When he arrives home, his mother greets him warmly; they exchange presents and dance together on Christmas Eve. But she becomes jealous of his relationship with Eva, and determines to have him entirely for herself. Slowly, she draws him into a difficult and strange relationship.
'The sexual tension is underlined by the bleak, winter setting, a contrasting, highly lyrical score ad he complete lack of dialogue in he early section of the movie, and the rather dominating use of close-ups.'
Brian Baxter, Film