This is slow-moving; after the first twenty minutes it has really no action to speak of, It is totally dialogue and psychological and philosophical to the end. It is also a very sad movie. Still it ends on a positive note, and as a whole is positive, and somewhat dreary at the same time.. Everyone's performances are laudable. Come to think of it, there are even some comic parts in the first section. But once the lead arrives at the estate there is nary a chuckle. However, that is as it should be. The movie speaks of "peace of mind" and "stillness of spirit" as the aims of life. The male lead's performance is extremely sensitive and gentle and his face and manner perfectly express that. The husband is totally mellowed-out and peaceful after the injury he has suffered in the war. It is halfway through the film, when he comes home, that the story gets into the conflict. The whole movie is low-key and very thoughtful. As an aside, the female lead's piano playing and the exact pieces she is playing are wonderful--and quite unlike overly dramatic piano playing you often hear in other movies. The way she handles the part of her character seems just right too.