Johan and Marianne appear to be the perfect couple but this paragon of married life is systematically dismantled scene by scene. Half-truths, lies and deceit lead to the painful decline of their marriage. And yet, they cannot let go. What starts out as the marriage from hell gradually becomes a search for unconditional and selfless love. Scenes from a Marriage depicts the dichotomy between feigned invul-nerability and basic emotional needs, between the desire to please others and an uncomfortable self-interest, between believing that we can change and accepting our own failings.

ingmar bergman
Drawing on almost thirty years of marriage experience with five different spouses, Ingmar Bergman (1918 - 2007) was able to write the screenplay to his hit film Scenes From A Marriage in three months. Bergman felt a strong connection with his lead characters Johan and Marianne: 'I became very fond of these people during the writing process. They generally talk a lot of nonsense but now and again will say something of substance. They are nervous, happy, egotistical, stupid, friendly, wise, willing to make sacrifices, affectionate, angry, loving, sentimental, insufferable and endearing.'

ivo van hove
'Scènes uit een huwelijk shows us how man is forced to rely on himself in a world without God, how in Western civilization he is at risk of losing his identify, and how difficult it is to live in our open society.'