While this may not be true, the series has influenced other critically-acclaimed dramas, like Marriage Story, and inspired a remake which was also well-received, despite rumors that it almost ended another relationship. The Scenes From a Marriage remake was rumored to strain Jessica Chastain and Oscar Isaac’s friendship, despite being a great series for both actors, and watching the show is sometimes extremely uncomfortable.
Scenes From A Marriage Has One Of The Strangest Opening Scenes Of All Time
Scenes From a Marriage has one of the weirdest opening scenes of all time. In a meta twist that feels straight out of the mind-bending 2016 sci-fi series The OA, rather than a traditional drama, the series opens with Jessica Chastain out of character and preparing to begin filming, while surrounded by crew members, masked during the pandemic.
After the “action” call, Chastain begins narrating the events in character. The decision to break the fourth wall by immediately showing the viewer that this is a TV set is a seemingly bizarre directive choice, but there is a method to the madness. The original series does not include this scene, so the Scenes From a Marriage remake is clearly different from the very first moment
The five-part show is often hard to watch, with the couple growing increasingly distant from each other and leaving many things unsaid that should have been explored. The core theme in both Scenes From a Marriage shows is pretending, and the strange opening scene establishes another layer to the production, reminding viewers that what we are seeing is not real.
Scenes From A Marriage Breaks The Rules Of Storytelling, But It Is Genius
The goal of virtually every movie and TV show made is to be immersive, allowing the viewer to forget that we are watching actors on sets. The most universally regarded best TV shows of all time can include fantastical elements but it is a testament to the show’s excellent acting and writing when the audience grows attached to characters and storylines.
We are so used to immersion being the obvious intention for movies and TV shows that the opening moments of Scenes From a Marriage feel uncomfortable and intrusive. Like The Sopranos’ infamous “cut to black” ending, the controversial scene breaks the rules of storytelling. However, it makes the show instantly intriguing, especially for people familiar with the source material.
Scenes From a Marriage‘s approach is actually genius, establishing several layers of a complex character dynamic by showing us the one that we rarely see, which is the actors’ skill. Jessica Chastain is phenomenal in Scenes From a Marriage, and the show draws attention to her acting talent as her character, Mira, evolves, as do her many secrets.
Scenes From A Marriage Is A Perfect Adaptation
Many viewers may not have realised that the show is a remake, as the 2021 adaptation of Scenes From a Marriage is not a direct copy of Ingmar Bergman’s miniseries. Instead of recreating the original series, the show instead presents its core themes in a slightly different form, updating the source material for a modern audience.
2021’s Scenes From a Marriage tells a very similar story to that of the original, showing the breakdown of a seemingly-loving marriage, but changes necessary elements for the viewers of today. The original presented very stereotypical gender norms, while the 2021 remake reverses these, providing the opportunity for cultural commentary within the story, as well as introducing modern technology.
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The Scenes From A Marriage TV Shows |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
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Title |
Year |
Director |
Rotten Tomatoes Critics’ Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Scenes From a Marriage |
1973 |
Ingmar Bergman |
88% |
95% |
|
Scenes From a Marriage |
2021 |
Hagai Levi |
83% |
81% |
The 2021 series is such a perfect show in its own right that it is better if you don’t watch the original Scenes From a Marriage. While the original was a masterpiece for the time, the updated Scenes From a Marriage captures its essence flawlessly while bringing the story and setting up to date for the next generation of viewers.