Scenes from a Marriage

About Scenes from a Marriage

"Scenes from a Marriage" is a 1973 Swedish Television series directed by Ingmar Bergman. The show, later edited into a theatrical release, documents the many years of love, betrayal, and emotional warfare in the marriage of Marianne and Johan. They appear to have a happy marriage, but when Johan suddenly leaves Marianne for another woman, they are forced to confront the disintegration of their relationship.

Making / Production

The production of "Scenes from a Marriage" was both groundbreaking and filled with turmoil. Bergman took a novel approach by formatting the content as a six-part miniseries for television before editing it for theatrical release. The production process was characterized by intense performances and emotional depth.

Actors

• Liv Ullmann as Marianne: Ullmann delivers a powerhouse performance as a woman navigating the fallout of a broken marriage.
• Erland Josephson as Johan: Josephson portrays a man who gets entangled in his own and others' emotions as he leaves his wife for a younger woman.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film / series was initially banned in the United States due to its sexual content, but it was eventually shown without cuts.
• Despite being made for television, it received a worldwide theatrical release due to its popularity and acclaim.

Awards

"Scenes from a Marriage" won the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film, and Liv Ullmann received the Best Actress award at the 1976 Guldbagge Awards.

Quotes

• “We’re emotional illiterates. We’ve been taught about anatomy and farming methods in Africa. We’ve learned mathematical formulas by heart. But we haven’t a clue about our own souls. We’re tremendously ignorant about what makes people tick.” – Johan
• “It’s horrible and wonderful at the same time. At times, I feel an incredible closeness. Other times, I feel nothing." – Marianne

Music, Soundtrack

• The theme of the film is taken from a concerto by Johann Sebastian Bach, the Concerto for violin, strings and continuo in D minor (reconstructed).
• The soundtrack also features the song "Sonata for Solo Violin," composed by Béla Bartók.