Scenes from a Marriage (Miniseries)
Iconic and epic television series by Ingmar Bergman about the demise of the ‘ideal’ marriage of teacher Johan and lawyer Marianne – a stellar performance by Liv Ullmann.
Johan and Marianne are married and seem to have it all. However, their happiness is a facade for a troubled relationship, which becomes even more shaky when Johan admits to having an affair. All stages of their disintegrating relationship are examined: from marriage to infidelity and from divorce to subsequent partnerships. In typical Bergman style, the director delves into the big existential questions: what does it mean to be ‘fulfilled’? How does one validate the other in a relationship ? And what is love anyway?
Although Ingmar Bergman also cut SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE into a film version in 1974, the project began in 1973 as a six-part miniseries intended for television. This version is, according to the film's director himself, the only correct version. Director Sean Baker (THE FLORIDA PROJECT, ANORA), who included SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE in his top ten films ever, is equally adamant in his preference for the series. The timeless project's is still a big influence to filmmakers today: think of 2019's MARRIAGE STORY by Noah Baumbach or the 2021 US remake of the series.