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No consensus yet.
All Critics (17) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (15) | Rotten (2) | DVD (5)
The film is an uncompromisingly harrowing and honest account of male-female relationships. Feb 9, 2006 | Full Review…
The film is an uncompromisingly harrowing and honest account of male-female relationships.
Geoff Andrew
One of the truest, most luminous love stories ever made. Oct 23, 2004 | Rating: 4/4 | Full Review…
One of the truest, most luminous love stories ever made.
Roger Ebert
It's a movie of such extraordinary intimacy that it has the effect of breaking into mysterious components many things we ordinarily accept without thought, familiar and banal objects, faces, attitudes, and emotions, especially love. May 20, 2003 | Rating: 5/5
It's a movie of such extraordinary intimacy that it has the effect of breaking into mysterious components many things we ordinarily accept without thought, familiar and banal objects, faces, attitudes, and emotions, especially love.
Vincent Canby
Bergman's screenplay leaves nothing to the imagination and turns the film into a windy soap opera most of the time; what might have been a masterpiece in the TV original (although I doubt it) becomes in its truncated form mostly elegant mush. Jan 1, 2000 | Full Review…
Bergman's screenplay leaves nothing to the imagination and turns the film into a windy soap opera most of the time; what might have been a masterpiece in the TV original (although I doubt it) becomes in its truncated form mostly elegant mush.
Don Druker
There is no beauty; instead, an oppressive emotional intensity which shuts out the spectator. Nov 8, 2017 | Full Review…
There is no beauty; instead, an oppressive emotional intensity which shuts out the spectator.
Duncan Fallowell
Left so little to the imagination. Aug 8, 2007 | Rating: B- | Full Review…
Left so little to the imagination.
Dennis Schwartz
There is little plot to speak of -- the film's chief force lying in its dramatization of marital trauma -- but viewers will be deeply moved by the marvelous acting and the honesty of Bergman's screenplay. Aug 29, 2006 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
There is little plot to speak of -- the film's chief force lying in its dramatization of marital trauma -- but viewers will be deeply moved by the marvelous acting and the honesty of Bergman's screenplay.
Reflecting the feminist movement, this raw, uncompromising anatomy of marriage, centers on Liv Ullmann's doubts, despair and confusion after her husband leaves her Aug 21, 2005 | Rating: A | Full Review…
Reflecting the feminist movement, this raw, uncompromising anatomy of marriage, centers on Liv Ullmann's doubts, despair and confusion after her husband leaves her
Emanuel Levy
A dramatically absorbing and psychologically rich portrait of a couple whose intimate relationship is falling apart and evolving into something quite different. Apr 29, 2004 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
A dramatically absorbing and psychologically rich portrait of a couple whose intimate relationship is falling apart and evolving into something quite different.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
It peels the skin off marriage to see how it really ticks. Apr 26, 2004 | Rating: A
It peels the skin off marriage to see how it really ticks.
Mark Robison
This raw and uncompromising motion picture has endured as one of Bergman's finest achievements. Mar 22, 2004 | Rating: 4/4 | Full Review…
This raw and uncompromising motion picture has endured as one of Bergman's finest achievements.
Matt Brunson
Shot in 16mm and tightly photographed, the film is immediate and unflinching in its probity, its scenes ranging from the enormously cruel to the redemptive. Mar 16, 2004 | Rating: 5/5
Shot in 16mm and tightly photographed, the film is immediate and unflinching in its probity, its scenes ranging from the enormously cruel to the redemptive.
Jake Euker
Possibly one of the most accurate films about the beginnings of the end of marraige and the circumstances that bring it about. You can imagine similar stories unfolding among couples that reach a breaking point in their relationships. One of Bergman's finest.
Super Reviewer
This film almost tops Closer as one of the meanest films ever. Some of the dialogue and actions are so emotionally damaging that it defies description. Josephson and Ullmann are truly amazing, and it occasionally seems like there wasn't even a script - that we're just looking in on these people's lives. However, I have two issues. First, it is clear to me from the beginning that this marriage is in trouble, and the fact that the characters are so naively oblivious almost makes us lose respect for them. Second, Bergman's quick zooms were annoying and unnecessary, and there were moments when the film was almost too claustrophobic. On a personal note, it was scary to see a true asshole use an argument that I used in real life. It doesn't necessarily mean the argument was wrong, but it made me wonder if my assholishness is beyond my comfort level.
Rarely can there have been a wordier, more intense film than Ingmar Bergman's 'Scenes from a Marriage': over three hours of near-continuous dialogue, over 90% of which is shared by just two (of a total of six) characters in what are effectively just six lengthy scenes. Set over a number of years, they observe a couple's changing relationship, and in particular the gradual and ambiguous transfer of power from the husband to the wife. The characters fit a Scandanavian archetype, reserved rather than fiery, and intellectual to boot: of more modern films, only David Mamet's 'Oleanna' comes to mind as remotely similar, although the dialogue in that film is more forced and contrived than that in this one, which closer resembles that of Kieslowski, although the latter's films were of course much less wordy. If it sounds dreary, the surprising thing is how riveting it is: superb, economical acting, and the splendid script, keep you focused, even though not a lot (in the conventional sense) actually happens. And while you'll watch more accessible movies, it's certainly fair to say that you'll rarely see a film this old that feels less dated. It's not quite entertainment as usually defined; but it's certainly interesting.
I watched the two hour and forty-five minute version of this film and maybe I am missing a lot. Either way, the acting is amazing throughout by the two leads. There scenes are great, but very draining emotionally. The reason that I would say that I like Cassavettes more because of the personality that is put into each of the characters. I guess what I am saying is that is kind of hard to feel sorry for some really successful people who can do and feel whatever they want because they can afford to. And I thought the ending was kind of a cop out. In other words, I loved the characters and appreciated the fact that they were in love with one another, but on the other hand wondered why two selfish people like these even get married in the first place.
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