Scenes from a Marriage

Scenes from a Marriage
SwedishScener ur ett äktenskap
Written byIngmar Bergman
Directed byIngmar Bergman
Starring
Country of originSweden
Original languageSwedish
Production
ProducerLars-Owe Carlberg
CinematographySven Nykvist
Running time
  • 281 minutes (TV version)[1]
  • 167 minutes (theatrical)[2]
BudgetUSD$150,000
Original release
NetworkSVT
Release11 April (1973-04-11) –
16 May 1973 (1973-05-16)
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

Scenes from a Marriage (Swedish: Scener ur ett äktenskap) is a 1973 Swedish television miniseries written and directed by Ingmar Bergman. Over the course of six hour-long episodes, it explores the disintegration of the marriage between Marianne (Liv Ullmann), a divorce lawyer, and Johan (Erland Josephson), a reader in psychology. The series spans a period of 10 years. Bergman's teleplay draws on his own experiences, including his relationship with Ullmann. It was shot on a small budget in Stockholm and Fårö in 1972.

After initially airing on Swedish TV in six parts, the miniseries was condensed into a theatrical version and received positive reviews in Sweden and internationally. Scenes from a Marriage was also the subject of controversy for its perceived influence on rising divorce rates in Europe. The film was ineligible for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, but won the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film and several other honours. The miniseries and film version influenced filmmakers such as Woody Allen and Richard Linklater. It was followed by a sequel, Saraband, in 2003, and stage adaptations. It was also adapted into an HBO miniseries in 2021.

  1. ^ "Scener ur ett äktenskap (1973)". Swedish Film Database. Archived from the original on 22 September 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  2. ^ "Scenes from a Marriage (AA)". British Board of Film Classification. 4 November 1974. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2013.