Bergman Island/ After-life

Near the end of the documentary , Bergman Island (2004), he starts talking about Ingrid and her death and says, "I accept that i will meet Ingrid again. And ive completely crossed out that other nightmare thought that ill never meet her."... is this his way of dealing with the depressing "nightmare thought" , or did he really believe that?... I thought he came out later in life as an atheist?... I don't know.

He was a very interesting guy who seemed as though he never had a definitive way of looking at this subject, which is understandable. But I just cant see someone, atheist or agnostic, saying that. Can one still believe in an alternative after-life rather than a heavenly/ religious one?