TITLE: "SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE": THEN AND NOW
It's a good feeling for film lovers to experience Ingmar Bergman once again with a recent 2021 HBO TV series - thus reminding viewers of his own 1973 "Scenes From a Marriage." Oddly enough, that initial work was also a TV series; other superficial similarities are also present in the two series. First, the basic plot line is the same, featuring a couple's separation, affairs, bonding, rebonding and divorce. The main actors in both programs literally look alike as well: it is apparent that Liv Ullmann's ( Marianne ) demeanor and body type resemble Jessica Chastain's ( Mira ) physical traits, including her skin and hair coloring/ style. Ditto for Erland Josephson's ( Johan ) similarity to Oscar Isaac ( Jonathan ), including his beard and glasses. That's where some narrative qualities have to end, since this critic did not see Bergman's original version. However, selected clips reveal the Swedish director's signature compositi