Scripted by Ingmar Bergman, this very personal film is about a destructive affair which wrecks the marriage of an actress (Marianne) and musician (Markus). Wanting to continue the affair, Marianne moves in with her lover. But she is tormented by Markus' decision not to let her have custody of their daughter. Finally Markus announces he may have a solution to the stalemate, but this leads to deception, lies and ultimately, tragedy.
Writing
Bergman's script: autobiographical, unsparing, possibly his truest confession.
Acting
Endre's Marianne: every micro-expression is a small wound.
Direction
Ullmann transforms private pain into universal tragedy.
Director
Liv Ullmann
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Bergman based this on his own affair with actress Gun Grut during his marriage to Ullmann's mother—yes, the director's own father figure wrote this.
The film's 154-minute runtime mirrors the theatrical structure Bergman originally envisioned; Ullmann insisted on preserving every painful minute.
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