Scenes from a Marriage 2021 / An English adaptation of the 1973 Swedish classic, held up by excellent direction and palpable chemistry between its leads

This English-language adaptation of the 1973 Swedish miniseries by Ingmar Bergman stars Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain, whose palpable chemistry is at full force here. It’s daunting to adapt a work from such a legend of the screen, but director Hagai Levi finds new nuances and modern situations to the story—infusing a different cultural identity into some characters, and playing with typically gendered tropes such as infidelity. While it can be frustrating to watch this couple’s failure to communicate properly, Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain’s powerful, heartbreaking performances should keep fans and casual viewers hooked to the screen.