Saraband

In his mid-80s Ingmar Bergman returned to filmmaking with this 2003 sequel—an examination of the couple at the center of his piercing Scenes from a Marriage (1973) some three decades later—a fitting career capstone. A somber, stately study of pain and despair about people who for the most part look backward rather than forward, Saraband, which is titled after a slow Spanish dance, is measured in tempo but deals with extreme, if repressed, emotional turbulence. Marianne (Liv Ullmann), the unhappy wife from the first film, now long divorced and estranged, visits her unfaithful ex-husband Johan (Erland Josephson), a wealthy recluse living in a ramshackle lakeside mansion. Johan isn't entirely alone, however; in a nearby cottage are a despised son from his first marriage and Johan's granddaughter, a talented cellist yearning for greater freedom. Divided into a prologue, 10 chapters, and an epilogue—each consisting of either a monologue by a single character or a conversation between two of them—the film's overarching subject is loneliness, particularly the isolation of aging and the fear of impending death, as well as guilt over past mistakes and separations. But even though it's rather static, Saraband carries considerable power, not only because of its probing dialogue, but also thanks to fine acting. A poignant, incisive valedictory from one of the true masters of cinema, this is highly recommended. [Note: DVD extras include a 44-minute “making-of” documentary, and trailers. Bottom line: a small but insightful extras package for a powerful film.] (F. Swietek)