What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedScenes from a Marriage
Film · 1974
If you loved Scenes from a Marriage, start with Scenes from a Marriage (Ingmar Bergman, 1973) — a series from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Scenes from a Marriage across media.
You were drawn to Scenes from a Marriage by the unflinching dissection of how love dissolves through communication, resentment, and complex intimacy.
Start with the source
The source
Scenes from a Marriage
Ingmar Bergman · Series · 1973
Books on the same thread
The Women's Room
Marilyn French · Book · 1977
Explores: Feminism, Marriage, Divorce.
Like Scenes from a Marriage, this novel examines the stifling social constraints of matrimony, offering a similarly raw exploration of female identity and the painful process of marital dissolution.
Revolutionary Road
Richard Yates · Book · 1971
Shares a thread with Scenes from a Marriage: Psychological Drama.
If the performative domesticity in Scenes from a Marriage resonated with you, you will appreciate how this story exposes the existential ennui and hidden marital disillusionment behind a suburban facade.
Crossroads
Jonathan Franzen · Book · 2021
Explores: generational trauma, moral ambiguity, religious disillusionment.
This family saga mirrors the moral ambiguity found in Scenes from a Marriage, diving deep into the generational patterns and domestic tensions that define how people struggle within their commitments.
A Doll's House
Henrik Ibsen · Book · 2021
Shares a thread with Scenes from a Marriage: Domestic drama.
Much like the power dynamics depicted in Scenes from a Marriage, this play masterfully captures the deception and social constraints that eventually force a confrontation with a fragile reality.
Series on the same thread
Normal People
Series · 2020
Shares 2 threads with Scenes from a Marriage: Emotional Intimacy, Relationship Drama.
The erratic cycle of longing and miscommunication in this series echoes the emotional intensity of Scenes from a Marriage, focusing on the volatile nature of connection and complex interpersonal dynamics.
The Affair
Sarah Treem · Series · 2014
Shares 3 threads with Scenes from a Marriage: Infidelity, Psychological Drama, Relationship Drama.
This series captures the same devastating fallout of infidelity explored in Scenes from a Marriage, utilizing shifting perspectives to highlight the guilt and emotional intimacy inherent in crumbling relationships.
Fleishman Is in Trouble
Taffy Brodesser-Akner · Series · 2022
Shares a thread with Scenes from a Marriage: Domestic Drama.
This narrative mirrors the post-divorce disorientation seen in Scenes from a Marriage, focusing on the midlife crisis and the jarring transition from a long-term partnership to an uncertain, solitary existence.
Middlemarch
Series · 1994
Explores: Social constraints, Unfulfilled potential, Class differences.
The struggle for intellectual fulfillment within a restrictive marriage in this period drama reflects the same tension found in Scenes from a Marriage, highlighting the friction between duty and self.
Podcasts on the same thread
Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel
Podcast
Explores: relationships, marriage, family dynamics.
If you were captivated by the therapy-like dialogue in Scenes from a Marriage, this podcast provides an unfiltered look at the same raw, intimate conflict resolution and complex relationship dynamics.
Sh**ged Married Annoyed
Chris & Rosie Ramsey · Podcast · 2026
Explores: domestic life, modern marriage, parenthood struggles.
While lighter in tone, this podcast addresses the same modern marriage struggles and domestic annoyances that form the backdrop of the daily, often difficult, negotiations seen in Scenes from a Marriage.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Scenes from a Marriage a movie or a television series?
Scenes from a Marriage exists as both a 1973 television series and a 1974 feature film. Both versions explore the same narrative regarding the troubled relationship between Johan and Marianne as they navigate infidelity, separation, and attempts at reconciliation.
What is the difference between the 1973 and 1974 versions of Scenes from a Marriage?
The 1973 Scenes from a Marriage was originally produced as a television miniseries. The 1974 version is a theatrical film adaptation of that same material, focusing on the couple's journey through their marriage, affair, and eventual divorce.
Should I watch the 1973 television version of Scenes from a Marriage first?
Both the 1973 television series and the 1974 film cover the same story of Johan and Marianne. You can choose either version to experience the narrative, as both depict the couple moving toward divorce while struggling with the complexities of their long-term relationship.
How does the plot of Scenes from a Marriage unfold?
Scenes from a Marriage follows Johan and Marianne, a couple whose apparent happiness hides a troubled relationship. The story progresses as Johan admits to an affair, leading the pair toward divorce while they simultaneously attempt to reconcile and pursue other relationships.