Scenes from a Marriage

Scenes from a Marriage (Swedish: Scener ur ett äktenskap) is a 1973 Swedish TV series written and directed by Ingmar Bergman. The story explores the disintegration of a marriage between Marianne, a lawyer, and Johan, a professor (played respectively by Liv Ullmann and Erland Josephson) over a long period, using a restricted cast, a naturalist, hyper-realistic cinematic style, claustrophobic close-ups, and strings of rapid, articulate monologues. After major success in Sweden, the series became notorious worldwide when it was condemned for allegedly inspiring a spike in Scandinavian divorce rates, which almost doubled in the year of its release.
==Episodes==
This plot summary is for the 281-minute, TV miniseries version of the work (the feature film retains the episode names as chapter titles). Each episode concludes with long, quiet, comforting shots of Fårö landscapes, as a "relief" from the up-close, tense and claustrophobic episodes. Each episode is structured around one critical scene, described below, the rest of each episode dedicated to discussion and aftereffects. Some of the episodes occur months or years apart.
# 	Title
1 	"Innocence and Panic"
The story begins around Marianne's and Johan's 10th anniversary, when a reporter for a women's magazine interviews them. Peter and Katarina visit later for a dinner, and cruelly humiliate one another.  	The story begins around Marianne's and Johan's 10th anniversary, when a reporter for a women's magazine interviews them. Peter and Katarina visit later for a dinner, and cruelly humiliate one another. 
2 	"The Art of Sweeping Things Under the Rug"
Marianne tries to withdraw from a Sunday dinner with her parents but fails and realizes how difficult it is to let down other people's expectations. Johan flirts with another woman at work.  	Marianne tries to withdraw from a Sunday dinner with her parents but fails and realizes how difficult it is to let down other people's expectations. Johan flirts with another woman at work. 
3 	"Paula"
The couple retreat to their countryside house. Johan informs Marianne that he wants separation, and is leaving to Paris with his lover Paola for six months.  	The couple retreat to their countryside house. Johan informs Marianne that he wants separation, and is leaving to Paris with his lover Paola for six months. 
4 	"The Vale of Tears"
Johan is disillusioned with his current lover and revisits Marianne. They discuss their current life, then attempt to have sex. Johan is not successful, causing his frustration and departure.  	Johan is disillusioned with his current lover and revisits Marianne. They discuss their current life, then attempt to have sex. Johan is not successful, causing his frustration and departure. 
5 	"The Illiterates"
Marianne and Johan meet at his office to sign divorce papers, but Johan refuses. The two fight savagely. Johan declares that they are the emotional illiterates.  	Marianne and Johan meet at his office to sign divorce papers, but Johan refuses. The two fight savagely. Johan declares that they are the emotional illiterates. 
6 	"In the Middle of the Night in a Dark House Somewhere in the World"
Marianne and Johan have married other people, but are unhappy. They meet coincidentally in a theatre on the 20th anniversary of their wedding, and decide to spend time together in the countryside. They are still in love with each other. At the cabin, they talk establishing how much they have changed through their divorce experiences, Marianne is more self-conscious while Johan had accepted his real abilities. The two fall asleep in conversation. When Marianne wakes up panicking from a nightmare, Johan comforts her. 	Marianne and Johan have married other people, but are unhappy. They meet coincidentally in a theatre on the 20th anniversary of their wedding, and decide to spend time together in the countryside. They are still in love with each other. At the cabin, they talk establishing how much they have changed through their divorce experiences, Marianne is more self-conscious while Johan had accepted his real abilities. The two fall asleep in conversation. When Marianne wakes up panicking from a nightmare, Johan comforts her. 
==Cast==
*Liv Ullmann as Marianne
*Erland Josephson as Johan
*Bibi Andersson as Katarina
*Jan Malmsjö as Peter
*Gunnel Lindblom as Eva
**Rossana Mariano as 12-year-old Eva
*Anita Wall as Fru [Mrs] Palm
*Barbro Hiort af Ornäs as Fru Jacobi
*Lena Bergman as Karin, sister of Eva
*Wenche Foss as Modern
*Bertil Norström as Arne
Category:1973 films
Category:1970s films
Category:Films
Category:Swedish drama films
Category:Swedish films
Category:Films directed by Ingmar Bergman