Showing the transformation and truely metamorphic timeline of marriage, from the first vows to divorce, Scenes from a Marriage is probably Bergman's most recital impelled and motivated film ever. There is barely anything else going on, but this is the entire proposition. What our legendary filmmaker was trying to come across was to prove than even without all the fabrics that the average movie requires, he manages to make a movie watchable from just the reciprocation of two people. Brilliant.

An incredible movie on nearly every level. The characters are so real that it almost feels as if you're watching a documentary. While it's primarily about marriage and relationships it explores many aspects of personal motivations and fullfilment through characters that are genuinely complex.

Brutally honest like no other film I've seen. The characters say the devastating things we've all thought but never had the courage to utter, but at the same time they're both plausible and sympathetic (thanks to both the writing and the great performances of Josephson and Ullmann).

I have to admit, I've had the Criterion Collection edition sitting on my shelf unwatched for some three or four years now. And right now, Bergman's film seems shelted, isolated and less relevant to my life than something like Ron Howard's Parenthood. But I still maintain, that you need to see this before you di. I should certainly see it again so I can remember why I hold it in such high regard.

The performances aren't just great, they are 100% convincing. The characters aren't just well developed, they are 100% real people, more so than many actual people I've met. The direction and cinematography aren't anything special, but they doesn't need to be, as any unusual tricks would only have served as distractions from the film's absolute realism.

499

gets better and better as you get further into it - the final two "scenes" are sublime

Becomes more universal upon repeated viewings. This is the human condition, this is life.

On infidelity. This is the greatest movie of the 1970s, and in a sense captures the essence of that decade. It is the greatest depiction of a relationship onscreen, and probably the greatest ever record of actors' performances. One of the greatest films of all time is a TV series! A singular achievement.

Of Bergman's films that I've gotten around to watching, this is the one I enjoy the most. You can relate to the characters, the close-ups are powerful yet not overwhelming, and you can actually take something away from this masterpiece. This film, to me, truly captures the "human spirit" in its range of emotions and character interaction.

Lip-knawingly real. The complexes of life, love, and intellect. No one is safe, less so the viewer. The script of a wise man.

Ingmar Bergman is a master at writing people as they really are, then directing the actors into giving powerful, realistic performances. I find the miniseries to be superior to the film, but both are excellent.

Probably the most affecting film without a score that I have seen. The performances are so wonderfully nuanced and compelling that the stage play-like qualities of the film did not detract from the intimate reality it portrays.

Two of the best written characters in the history of cinema come courtesy of Bergman. To see Ullman and Josephson together on screen in this film makes you want to actually see their chats for entire days.

The minisseries is a must-see, but somtimes it tries to hard to be "deep" - even though it ultimately is.

Acting is absolutely flawless. This movie nails the depiction of any relationship through the brilliant dialogue. It shows us two very level headed, intelligent people who go through what every couple must. The best part is there is very little shouting. Most of the debates between Johan and Marianne were two calm adults revealing feelings and fears that most people would bottle up. The level of honesty and openness can be hard to swallow but reveals how crazy true love really makes us.

Wow. Brutally honest and emotionally naked film. Liv Ullmann and Erland Josephson turn in amazing performances and Bergman utilizes close-up shots and silence to great emotional effect. I felt like I was physically beside Marianne and Johan through each phase of their highly tumultuous relationship. Highly recommended.

Svensk så det batter

Unbelievable acting from Ullmann and Josephson. It's remarkable how real the emotions they convey are. The sense of happiness, tragedy, frustration and despair found within the characters can be felt vicariously through the screen. Nothing short of amazing. I do have one complaint, though. While I understand Bergman wanted to intensely focus on Marianne and Johan as characters, I felt it was somewhat awkward that the children were never around. It was as if they didn't even exist.

Two of the best performances I've ever seen. Bergman is absolutely brilliant. Almost definitely the best relationship in the history of the cinema (so far as one can really make that claim).

Note that this rating is for the TV miniseries version, which is, in my opinion, far superior to the theatrical cut. Scenes From a Marriage is a complete masterpiece, and it is certainly a must-see film/miniseries for anyone with a serious interest in cinema.

I'm pretty sure all the problems in this movie could have been avoided if Johan wasn't so lousy at sex.

This is acting at its finest. Everything else in the film is in a back seat, kept muted and made almost irrelevant. They explore everything about love here, its ups and downs and it's tough to believe you're not watching two people who've been married for 10 years. It's stunning.

Every relationship is essentially the same. We are mountains for eachother desperately seeking meaning in our Sisyphusian existence. Once again Bergman playing god with his petty subjects.

Yet another powerful work from Bergman. The things these characters say to each other ring so true... they're conversations that you've had, or at least feel you've had or could have. Amazing performances, too.

Scenes From a Marriage is an epic of a completely different kind. It's internally intense and very emotional without being melodramatic or sappy at any point. Bergman captures the essence of a troubled relationship in a gripping state; it's extraordinarily powerful.