Scenes from a Marriage (1973) - The Criterion Collection

Synopsis

Marianne (Liv Ullmann) and Johan (Erland Josephson) always seemed like the perfect couple. But when Johan suddenly leaves Marianne for another woman, they are forced to confront the disintegration of their marriage. Shot in intense, intimate close-ups by master cinematographer Sven Nykvist, the film chronicles ten years of turmoil and love that bind the couple despite their divorce and subsequent marriages. Flawless acting and dialogue portray the brutal pain and uplifting peace that accompany a lifetime of loving. Originally conceived as a six-part miniseries for Swedish television, The Criterion Collection is proud to present not only the U.S. theatrical version, but also, for the first time on video in the U.S., Ingmar Bergman’s original 5-hour television version of Scenes From a Marriage.

Cast

Marianne	Liv Ullmann
Johann	Erland Josephson
Katarina	Bibi Andersson
Peter	Jan Malmsjö
Eva	Gunnel Lindblom
Mother	Wenche Foss
TV reporter	Anita Wall
Mrs. Jacobi	Barbro Hiort af Ornäs

Credits

Director	Ingmar Bergman
Written and directed by	Ingmar Bergman
Cinematography	Sven Nykvist
Assistant camera	Lars Karlsson
Wardrobe	Inger Pehrsson
Makeup	Cecilia Drott
Editing	Siv Lundgren
Script girl	Ulla Stattin
Sound	Owe Svensson
Production supervisor	Lars-Owe Carlberg

Disc Features

SPECIAL EDITION THREE–DISC SET:

New high-definition digital transfers of both the television (169 minutes) and the theatrical version (299 minutes), with restored image and sound
Comparison between the television and theatrical versions by film scholar Peter Cowie
Exclusive new video interview with stars Liv Ullmann and Erland Josephson
Video interview with Ingmar Bergman
New essay by author Phillip Lopate
New and improved English subtitle translation
Optimal image quality: RSDL dual-layer editions

From the Current

Salute to Liv Ullmann

by Peter Cowie Dec 15, 2008

Flash back to September 1968. The Swedish Film Week in Sorrento, Italy, with its alfresco suppers and its excursions to Capri and Pompeii. Ingmar Bergman was expected, and he and Liv Ullmann were assigned a luxurious villa for the duration. But Ingmar pleaded an ear infection, and Liv was left...

Scenes from a Marriage

by Phillip Lopate Mar 15, 2004

When Scenes from a Marriage (1974) was first released theatrically in the U.S., it held the voyeuristic thrill of watching a live couple flailing themselves before our eyes. The nearly three-hour film seemed to do for the institution of marriage what the spectacle of...