Comments on: SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE d: Ingmar Bergman http://www.altfg.com/blog/film-reviews/dvd-review-ingmar-bergmans-scenes-from-a-marriage/ thinking film Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:41:03 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Mark G. Eckel http://www.altfg.com/blog/film-reviews/dvd-review-ingmar-bergmans-scenes-from-a-marriage/#comment-474220 Mark G. Eckel Fri, 06 Mar 2009 02:31:51 +0000 http://www.altfg.com/blog/archives/2006/07/30/dvd-review-ingmar-bergmans-scenes-from-a-marriage/#comment-474220 Thank your for your insightful analysis of this great film. I have been using it in my Sociology of Marriage and Family course for some 25 years, first in 8mm film, then (sadly) dubbed VHS, and finally the Criterion Collection DVD. I saw the extended version when it was on PBS, at the very beginning of my marriage. Now, my wife and I are older than Johan and Marianne are at the end. "A whole, grown-up life together." After seeing this film nearly 100 times, I agree wholeheartedly with your opinion that Erland Josephson is at least as impressive as Liv Ullman. He subtly conveys his uptight smugness at the beginning, is a cad in the middle, but becomes the voice of calm acceptance at the end. It turns out that everything he said in his office was true: "Just wait. After a while, your self-loathing will come out again." That incredible coda, by candlelight in the old cabin, is an affirmation of love, but love in an "earthly and imperfect way." Johan, amazingly, has it figured out at the end. He has gotten over the high expectations expressed by Eva and "found his true proportions." Marianne has not. Thank your for your insightful analysis of this great film. I have been using it in my Sociology of Marriage and Family course for some 25 years, first in 8mm film, then (sadly) dubbed VHS, and finally the Criterion Collection DVD. I saw the extended version when it was on PBS, at the very beginning of my marriage. Now, my wife and I are older than Johan and Marianne are at the end. “A whole, grown-up life together.”

After seeing this film nearly 100 times, I agree wholeheartedly with your opinion that Erland Josephson is at least as impressive as Liv Ullman. He subtly conveys his uptight smugness at the beginning, is a cad in the middle, but becomes the voice of calm acceptance at the end. It turns out that everything he said in his office was true: “Just wait. After a while, your self-loathing will come out again.” That incredible coda, by candlelight in the old cabin, is an affirmation of love, but love in an “earthly and imperfect way.” Johan, amazingly, has it figured out at the end. He has gotten over the high expectations expressed by Eva and “found his true proportions.” Marianne has not.

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