Arquivo

The latest film by the renowned Swedish director, Saraband is a sort of concluding chapter to Bergman’ cinema career. The film carries on from where the classic Scenes from a Marriage (1974) left off. It’ a timeless sequel whereby the protagonists, Marianne and Johann 30 years on, return to some typical Bergmanian themes: the tension and strain in relationships and the destructive routine of couples, which date back to the rows and arguments the director’ parents used to have and which spilled over to his own complicated marital life, spanning five marriages and at least eight children. The two characters are played by the same lead actors as in Scenes from a Marriage, Liv Ulmann and Erland Josephson, who meet again and engage in an Autumn romance. Their relationship is haunted by the presence of another woman, Anna, whose name was initially meant to be the title for this film, an old Bergman’ project encompassing the most recurrent themes in his extensive filmography: death, love, hatred, resentment and the difficult coexistence between lovers, husband and wife, parents and children, and even between people in general. Saraband was formerly part of the 2003 Venice Festival selection, but Bergman withdrew it from the competition claiming that he was not satisfied with its visual aspect.