Faithless

Faithless is an intense tragedy with obvious autobiographical references. Bergman is the name of an old writer who is also the narrator of the film. He searches his memory to find inspiration for a new story. In it the actress Marianne, who is happily married to the composer Markus, starts an affair with the couple's close friend and the narrator's alter ego, the theatre and film director David.

Initially, the affair is fun and uncomplicated, but when Markus discovers the truth, matters turn deeply serious. Markus wants a divorce as well as the custody of his and Marianne's only child, Isabelle. The legal and emotional tug-of-war between the couple is wholly destructive, and so Faithless shows the brutal consequences of infidelity and divorce.

The emotionally raw script and the use of close ups make the drama almost unbearable to watch, but it never feels too long or irrelevant.