Scenes from a Marriage

A chronicle of the many years of love and turmoil that bind a contemporary American couple, tracking their relationship as it progresses through a number of successive stages: matrimony, parenthood, infidelity, divorce and subsequent partnerships.

Scenes from a Marriage (2021) is an American HBO limited series created by Hagai Levi, a five-episode remake of the Ingmar Bergman drama. It follows a contemporary couple played by Jessica Chastain as Mira Phillips and Oscar Isaac as Jonathan Levy, whose long marriage is tracked through its successive stages: matrimony, the strain of raising children, infidelity, divorce, and the partnerships that follow. Each hour is built from long, intimate conversations, kitchen-table confrontations and quiet domestic silences, so the engine of the show is less plot than the slow accumulation of resentment, longing and self-deception between two people who still love each other. Supporting players including Nicole Beharie, Corey Stoll and Sunita Mani appear as the people orbiting the marriage and the new relationships that complicate it. The tone is raw, adult and emotionally exposed, with a restrained naturalistic look that keeps the focus on faces and dialogue. Fans of Marriage Story, The Affair and the Bergman original will find resonance in its unflinching study of intimacy coming apart.

Critics and audiences broadly admire the intimate, emotionally raw performances of Jessica Chastain and Oscar Isaac and the unflinching portrait of marriage across its stages.

• Scenes from a Marriage (1973)shared intimate marriage drama, raw emotional realism, dissolving relationships
• The Affairslow burn relationship drama, intimate character study, tense domestic emotion
• Normal Peopleadult relationship drama, marriage under strain, prestige limited series tone
• Marriage Storymarriage and divorce drama, emotionally acute two-hander, prestige HBO intimacy

Created by

Hagai Levi

Release Date

2021-09-12

Episode runtime

60 min

Rating

8.0 / 10 (363)

What is Scenes from a Marriage about?

A five-part HBO miniseries following a contemporary American couple through marriage, parenthood, infidelity and divorce.

What is Scenes from a Marriage like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Scenes from a Marriage as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.

Is Scenes from a Marriage violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Scenes from a Marriage.

What did critics think of Scenes from a Marriage?

Critics and audiences broadly admire the intimate, emotionally raw performances of Jessica Chastain and Oscar Isaac and the unflinching portrait of marriage across its stages.

Which shows are like Scenes from a Marriage?

Shows with a similar feel include Scenes from a Marriage (1973), The Affair, Normal People, and Marriage Story.

How long is Scenes from a Marriage?

Scenes from a Marriage: 1 season, 5 episodes.

Is Scenes from a Marriage still running?

No, Scenes from a Marriage has ended.

Where can I watch Scenes from a Marriage?

In United States, Scenes from a Marriage streams on HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max.