伊萨克（维克多·斯约斯特洛姆VictorSjöström饰）从医50年，现年已是将近八十岁的高龄，正准备在儿媳的陪伴下返回母校接受荣誉学位颁发路上伊萨克顺道重游旧地，追忆往bbb伊萨克曾经和堂妹萨拉（毕比·安德森BibiAndersson饰）有过美好的初恋，却因性格冷酷孤僻，以致他的兄弟乘虚而入。如今伊萨克坐在草坪上，忆起往昔，眼前浮现萨拉白衣飘飘的美丽模样。他与生俱来的冷漠理智的性格，注定了婚姻的失败。伊萨克的妻子无法忍受冰冷的婚姻，寻求外遇。这样的家庭气氛，加上遗传下来的冷漠秉性，使得伊萨克的儿子不愿生小孩，和儿媳关系决裂。伊萨克获得了光荣的学位荣誉，然而他仍然沉浸在对过往沉重的自省中，对于生命将尽的老人，这仿佛是一次心灵救赎之旅。

Isaac (played by Victor Sjöström) has been a doctor for 50 years, and he is now nearly eighty years old. , is preparing to return to his alma mater accompanied by his daughter-in-law to receive an honorary degree. Because of his cold and withdrawn personality, his brother took advantage of it. Now Isaac is sitting on the lawn, recalling the past, and seeing Sarah's beautiful appearance in fluttering white clothes. His innate indifference and rational character doomed the marriage to failure. Isaac's wife can't bear the cold marriage and seeks an affair. Such a family atmosphere, coupled with the inherited indifference, made Isaac's son unwilling to have children and broke up with his daughter-in-law. Isaac has received a glorious degree honor, but he is still immersed in the heavy introspection of the past. For the old man who is dying, this seems to be a journey of spiritual salvation.