Scenes from a Marriage 

Ten years within the marriage of Marianne and Johan.

Stars:

Liv Ullmann, Erland Josephson, Bibi Andersson

Top Rated TV #214 | Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 10 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Liv Ullmann	...	Marianne 6 episodes, 1973
Erland Josephson	...	Johan 6 episodes, 1973
Gunnel Lindblom	...	Eva 2 episodes, 1973

Storyline

Ten years of Marianne and Johan's relationship are presented. We first meet them ten years into their marriage. He is a college professor, she a divorce lawyer. They say that they are happily married - unlike their friends Katarina and Peter who openly fight, especially when under the influence of alcohol - but there is a certain detached aloofness in the way they treat each other. In the next ten years, as they contemplate or embark upon divorce and/or known extramarital affairs, they come to differing understandings at each phase of their relationship of what they truly mean to each other. Regardless of if it's love or hate - between which there is a fine line - they also come to certain understandings of how they can best relate to each other, whether that be as husband and wife, friends, lovers or none of the above.

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Plot Keywords:

divorce | affair | couple | marriage | auteur tv | 

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Taglines:

The dissecting of a marriage.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

Sweden

Language:

Swedish

Release Date:

11 April 1973 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Scenes from a Marriage

Filming Locations:

Fårö, Gotlands län, Sweden

Box Office

Budget:

$150,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinematograph AB

Technical Specs

Runtime:

283 min 169 min (theatrical)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film made its US broadcast debut on HBO in May 1975.

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Quotes

Marianne: We're pitiful, self-indulgent cowards that can't connect with reality and are ashamed of ourselves.

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Crazy Credits

The end credits aren't shown on-screen but read by director and writer Ingmar Bergman, while "a beautiful picture of Fårö" is shown (different for each episode). Bergman himself is not credited at all.

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Alternate Versions

A 299 minute version is featured on a 3-disc Criterion Collection DVD, released in 2004.

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Connections

Followed by Saraband (2003)

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Soundtracks

Concerto for violin, strings & continuo in B flat major, Op. 10, No. 1
(uncredited)
Written by Tomaso Albinoni
A short extract is played during the very beginning and end of each episode (it's not featured in the theatrical version)

User Reviews

A Meaningful Film

Enormous success it had with audiences of Swedish TV, where it was shown in six episodes paved way for its theatrical release. This however called for compromising almost half the original length of celluloid.

As one of more easily understandable Bergman films, "Scenes From A Marriage" met much enthusiasm on both sides of the Atlatic.

The film showcases great two of Ingmar Bergman's favorite actors. Both Liv Ullman and Erland Josephson give lively mature performances, lauded by critics.

Being a down-to-earth family drama with strong social commentary of great relevance, "Scenes From A Marriage" has something important to convey. It is a meaningful picture.

It reflects on the nature of relationship between man and woman. It invites us to ponder on this basic issue, a cornerstone of human society Although not quite in the same league with bona-fide Bergman classics like "The Seventh Seal" and "Persona", "Scenes From A Marriage" remains a powerful movie.