Saraband (2003)
91%RT Audience Score: 87%
Awards & Nominations: 3 wins & 4 nominations
If Saraband appears to be a minor entry in Ingmar Bergman’s filmography, it’s still an accomplished piece of work from one of cinema’s greatest masters.
Saraband is like a rollercoaster ride of emotions, but instead of loops and drops, it’s all about the nuances of performance and the complexities of human relationships. Bergman’s final film is a testament to his skill as a filmmaker, and the performances are beyond praise. It’s not exactly light-hearted viewing, but if you’re in the mood for some existential gruel and pitiless intensity, then this is the movie for you. Just make sure you have some tissues handy.
Production Company(ies)
Mandeville Films, Walt Disney Pictures,
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics, Sveriges Television (SVT) [se]
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for brief nudity, language and a violent image
Year of Release
2003
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:1h 47m
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Language(s):Swedish, English, German
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 1, 2003 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 20, 2005
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
Saraband, R, Drama, 1h 47m, 90% Tomatometer, 87% Audience Score, Ingmar Bergman, Erland Josephson, Liv Ullmann, Börje Ahlstedt, Julia Dufvenius, Gunnel Fred, Sony Pictures Classics, Sveriges Television (SVT), Stereo, Swedish, Brief Nudity, Violent Images, Language, Drama, $645.6K Box Office, reviewed by Jonathan Romney, David Ansen, David Parkinson, Terry Lawson, Jamie Woolley, Tim Page, Dorothy Woodend, Film4 Staff, Robert Davis, Brandon Fibbs, Maria Garcia, directed by Ingmar Bergman, written by Ingmar Bergman, produced by x
Worldwide gross: $975,181
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,580,643
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,480
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 172,371
US/Canada gross: $645,634
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,046,490
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,183
US/Canada opening weekend: $34,304
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $55,602
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,168
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Liv Ullmann – Marianne
Börje Ahlstedt – Henrik
Julia Dufvenius – Karin
Gunnel Fred – Martha
Ingmar Bergman – Director
Director(s)
Ingmar Bergman
Writer(s)
Ingmar Bergman
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
3 wins & 4 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (84) | Top Critics (36) | Fresh (76) | Rotten (8)
Saraband is a commandingly restrained final composition and — as the theme of classical musicianship suggests — very much an affair of close attention to the nuances of performance.
June 18, 2012
Jonathan Romney
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
With Saraband, the great writer-director has stepped back into the ring for one last epic wrestle with his demons. There is, as always, no easy outcome. But no one ever fought for higher emotional and spiritual stakes.
November 1, 2007
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
Insightful as ever but a little dated in the set-up and treatment of the shooting.
April 1, 2006 | Rating: 3/5
David Parkinson
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
While bringing an abundance of inspiration to this world, Bergman unapologetically refused to ignore the pain and darkness that infects mankind. There will never be another filmmaker like him.
December 2, 2005 | Rating: 3/4
Terry Lawson
Detroit Free Press
TOP CRITIC
Even if it is, as he claims, his last film, Saraband will be a testament to Bergman’s skill as a filmmaker, still a creative force to be reckoned with after 60-plus years in the business.
October 8, 2005 | Rating: 4/5
Jamie Woolley
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
The performances — welling, unified and multidimensional — are beyond praise, as are Bergman’s visual images.
September 9, 2005
Tim Page
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
Certainly Bergman is what he is: the great man, with almost countless films to his credit.
August 24, 2017
Dorothy Woodend
The Tyee (British Columbia)
It is existential gruel, ten portions of misery handed down from the master. Compelling and intense, it is also pitiless.
August 7, 2012
Film4 Staff
Film4
Bergman has a sharp talent for observing human conflicts without claiming to fully understand them.
June 5, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Robert Davis
Paste Magazine
So many great directors seem to go out with a whimper. Ingmar Bergman has gone out with a bang.
February 28, 2008 | Rating: 7/10
Brandon Fibbs
BrandonFibbs.com
We find [Bergman]at 87, sifting through his pictures, wondering at the choices he’s made.
March 1, 2007
Maria Garcia
Film Journal International
It goes without saying that Saraband doesn’t make for light hearted viewing. But this is a powerful, emotional family drama that can happily rank with some of Bergman’s best work.
June 3, 2006 | Rating: 8/10
Matt McAllister
Future Movies UK…
Plot
After Johan separates from his second wife and Marianne loses her second husband, the ex-lovers try to reconnect 30 years after the events of “Scenes from a Marriage” in Ingmar Bergman’s drama, “Saraband.” Meanwhile, Johan’s son, Henrik, is having problems of his own with his daughter, Karin, a cellist whose career plans don’t match her father’s expectations.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Saraband features Liv Ullmann, who had not appeared in front of a camera in nearly ten years.
Ingmar-Bergman.jpg
