"Scenes from a Marriage" (1973) "Scener ur ett äktenskap" (original title), TV mini-series 1973-

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

15 September 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Ten years of Marianne and Johan's relationship are presented. We first meet them ten years into their marriage...

Plot Keywords:

Divorce | Affair | Couple | Marriage | Adulterous Husband

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 13 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Liv Ullmann	...	Marianne (6 episodes, 1973)
Erland Josephson	...	Johan (6 episodes, 1973)

Series Directed by
Ingmar Bergman		(6 episodes, 1973)

Series Writing credits
Ingmar Bergman		(6 episodes, 1973)

Series Produced by
Lars-Owe Carlberg	....	producer (unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Sven Nykvist		(6 episodes, 1973)

Series Film Editing by
Siv Lundgren		(6 episodes, 1973)

Series Production Design by
Björn Thulin		(6 episodes, 1973)

Series Costume Design by
Inger Pehrsson		(6 episodes, 1973)

Series Makeup Department
Cecilia Drott	....	makeup artist (6 episodes, 1973)

Series Production Management
Lars-Owe Carlberg	....	production manager (6 episodes, 1973)

Series Art Department
Gunilla Hagberg	....	property master (6 episodes, 1973)

Series Sound Department
Arne Carlsson	....	sound assistant (6 episodes, 1973)
Owe Svensson	....	sound / sound engineer / ... (6 episodes, 1973)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Lars Karlsson	....	assistant camera (6 episodes, 1973)

Series Other crew
Anders Bergkvist	....	other crew (6 episodes, 1973)
Ingmar Bergman	....	speaker (6 episodes, 1973)
Ingrid Bergman	....	other crew (6 episodes, 1973)
Stefan Gustafsson	....	other crew (6 episodes, 1973)
Lars Hagberg	....	other crew (6 episodes, 1973)
Adolf Karlström	....	other crew (6 episodes, 1973)
Nils Melander	....	laboratory technician (6 episodes, 1973)
Kent Nyström	....	other crew (6 episodes, 1973)
Bo-Erik Olsson	....	other crew (6 episodes, 1973)
Ulla Stattin	....	script supervisor (6 episodes, 1973)
Siri Werkelin	....	other crew (6 episodes, 1973)

Production Companies

• Cinematograph AB

Distributors

• Dianafilmi (1981) (Finland) (theatrical)
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (1973-1974) (UK) (TV)
• Cinema 5 Distributing (1974) (USA) (subtitled)
• Concorde Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Criterion Collection, The (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (????) (USA) (laserdisc)
• FS Film Oy (2003) (Finland) (DVD)
• Gutek Film (2007) (Poland) (all media)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Sveriges Radio (1973) (Sweden) (TV)
• Tartan Video (1995) (video) (subtitled)
• Versátil Home Vídeo (2006) (Brazil) (DVD)

Also Known As:

"Scener ur ett äktenskap" - Sweden (original title)

Runtime:

283 min | 169 min (theatrical version)

Country:

Sweden

Language:

Swedish

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Netherlands:16 | Sweden:15 | USA:PG | West Germany:16 | UK:AA | UK:15 (video rating) (1986) | Argentina:16 | Finland:K-11 (TV version) (2003) (DVD) | Finland:K-12 (theatrical version) (1981)

Filming Locations:

Fårö, Gotlands län, Sweden

Company:

Cinematograph AB

Trivia:

Bergman's script for the (shortened) film version has been used for theatrical performances.

Quotes:

Johan:You need to put a lot of effort into not caring.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Taxi: Scenskees from a Marriage: Part 2 (#5.5)" (1982)

Soundtrack:

Concerto for violin, strings & continuo in B flat major, Op. 10, No. 1

Sometimes hard to take, but unbearably wise

"Scenes From A Marriage" is quite simply that: we meet Marianne & Johan ten years into their union & we witness half a dozen scenes of their lives. I'm not married, but I have of course known many people, family & friends, who were married & who talked, acted, & lived much like this couple does. That they are well-educated & affluent is somewhat irrelevant - married couples often seem to be keeping a certain secret (some keep it better than others) that they disguise with contentment, ritual, obligation, affection. Most of the time they keep this secret even from themselves. This movie is about the gradual discovery of the two main characters of the nature & ramifications of that secret.

As far as Bergman films go, it's strangely pretty, in color, with two attractive leads. But I think perhaps Bergman (& Sven Nykvist) sought to give us a sense of familiarity with the suburban, middle-class surroundings to lure us into a false sense of the security of the marriage in question. Without giving anything away, I suggest that this film is no less dark & heavy than other Bergman films; it rather goes for the heart in the way that you often wish modern dramas about relationships would. It's not trite, nor contrived, nor easily resolved. It's wise as life.

The movie was edited down by Bergman from a six-episode television series, which comprise the "scenes." The cast is great, but it's Ullmann & Josephson's show, & Ullmann is such a magnificent actor that I marvel at her expressive face, which Bergman smartly keeps his camera on.

It's unbearably wise, & sometimes difficult, but there aren't many films out there as honest as this one.