Plot: What’s it about?
The bond of a marriage is a tough one, a bond that brings two people together forever, or so the vows lead us to believe. The divorce rate proves that not all vows are completed however, as even the most in love couples often crash. The day in, day out trials & tribulations of married life can wear down even the strongest couple, as small quirks about each other surface and drive a wedge between them. Marianne (Liv Ullman) and Johan (Erland Josephson) seemed to be the perfect match, a couple that could last the distance together. She was a smart, beautiful woman with a bright future, while he was ambitious and worked hard to advance himself. The two had just the right balance of elements, enough to make others think this was a match made in heaven and if anyone could be happy together forever, it was Marianne and Johan. But under the calm surface, trouble lurked and in a bold move, Johan leaves Marianne. He leaves her for another woman, which shatters the life they have built, or so it would seem. But with time, the two drift back together once again, though time holds more tribulations. The two spiral into a bitter divorce, caused by endless fighting and the fallout from previous battles. But when time has passed and reflections have dawned, what will become of this once happy couple?
If you sit down to watch a movie about marriage, you’re bound to see a romantic, stylized take on the institution. While that gives us all a sense of hope and warm heartedness, that vision of marriage isn’t how most couples live. So when a more realistic take arrives, it is not only a breath of fresh air, but a more effective experience. After all, who can relate to a couple that never fights, never loses the romance, and never even dreams of a divorce. In Scenes from a Marriage, we’re taken on a much more realistic, dark trek through marriage, perhaps one that too real at times, which is why it packs such an impact. Ingmar Bergman (Cries and Whispers, The Seventh Seal) directs in his usual style, which means a grounded, realistic experience that plays on genuine emotions, ones we all have experienced. Scenes from a Marriage looks at the side of marriage we don’t often see and if we do see it, the tone is more comedic. So no, this is not a romantic, glamorous motion picture, but it does strike intense chords. In truth, I can see how some people would even be overwhelmed, as the movie has a realistic approach. That sense of realism is bolstered by Liv Ullman and Erland Josephson, who turn in incredible performances. In short, this is a powerful, emotional experience that shouldn’t be missed.
This excellent production has been given a lavish treatment here, thanks to the usual red carpet service from The Criterion Collection. Scenes from a Marriage is a unique production, one that was intended for television broadcast, but eventually become a motion picture. Bergman directed a five hour version of Scenes from a Marriage, which was shown on Swedish television. An alternate version clocks in around three hours and thanks to the shorter duration, Scenes from a Marriage could be shown in theaters. This shorter version is more intense perhaps, but lacks some of the impact, since a lot of the details have been cut out. This results in a series of high emotion moments, without the background details, so its a trade off of sorts. The longer version has some slow stretches, but the overall impact is deeper and more potent. This is thanks to the additional details seen and of course, we can all relate to the little details. In this special three disc collection from Criterion, we are lucky enough to have both versions. So you can watch the complete epic from start to finish, or stick to the theatrical cut, if desired. That means we can compare and contrast the versions, which is an invaluable resource. This is the kind of treatment I love to see, so if you’re interested, this release is well recommended.
Video: How does it look?
Scenes from a Marriage is presented in full frame, as intended. This movie has never looked this good, as Criterion has restored the elements and provided a superb visual presentation. I’ve only seen lackluster releases of the film edition and grey market tapes of the mini-series, so I was dazzled by this new transfer. The print looks more than solid, with no serious nicks or scuffs, while grain is minimal at worst. The image is a tad soft at times, but detail remains quite solid throughout, with no lost visual information. I found the colors to be bright, but not that vivid, as the hues are grounded in a very natural scope. The flesh tones never waver in the slightest, while contrast is smooth and never presents any problems. A few minor issues do surface, but when compared to previous editions, this is a massive improvement.
Audio: How does it sound?
The original Swedish soundtrack is preserved here, via a cleaned up mono option that more than handles the needs of the material. Of course, those needs are minimal, since the film relies so much on dialogue. In fact, dialogue is just about all you’ll hear in Scenes from a Marriage, as Bergman doesn’t lean on sound effects or music that much. The sound effects do have a role in the picture, such as background noises and basic effects, which come across well. But aside from those basic audio elements, this is an all dialogue experience. The vocals are well handled too, as all the dialogue sounds clean and clear at all times. In case you don’t speak fluent Swedish, you can also enable new & improved English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
A trio of interviews are included here, one with director Ingmar Bergman, another with stars Liv Ullman & Erland Josephson, and the last with film scholar Peter Cowie. As always, Cowie is well researched and offers a lot of insight, while the other two interviews provide a more on location take on the production. I would have loved an audio commentary track of some kind, but the interviews do contain a lot of good information.
