Movielogr

Rating: 8 stars

Tags

sweden marriage problems infidelity divorce

All movies seen on 07/01/2025

View on: IMDb | TMDb

Scenes from a Marriage (1974)

Directed by Ingmar Bergman

Drama

Overview

Johan and Marianne are married and seem to have it all. Their happiness, however, is a façade for a troubled relationship, which becomes even rockier when Johan admits that he’s having an affair. Before long, the spouses separate and move towards finalizing their divorce, but they make attempts at reconciling. Even as they pursue other relationships, Johan and Marianne realize that they have a significant bond, but also many issues that hinder that connection.

Rated PG | Length 169 minutes

Actors

Liv Ullmann | Erland Josephson | Bibi Andersson | Jan Malmsjö | Gunnel Lindblom | Wenche Foss | Bertil Norström | Anita Wall | Rossana Mariano | Lena Bergman | Ingmar Bergman | Barbro Hiort af Ornäs

Viewing History (seen 1 time)

Viewing Notes

I watched the five-hour, six-episode Swedish tv version before watching this three-hour theatrical version. Interesting to see the differences and what Bergman decided to cut. The theatrical version is more intensely focused on the Ullman and Josephson characters (for example, an entire scene with Ullman and her mother is completely cut).

I thought the most interesting aspect was the growth of Liv Ullman’s character. During the interview that starts the film, she barely has anything to say about herself, but as the film progresses, she becomes stronger and more independent.

Overall, an extremely intimate and emotionally charged look at a marriage (it’s said that the divorce rate in Denmark went way up right after the tv series aired!). It was shot on 16mm, so it has a grainy look.

Comments