Essay Questions

How does Bergman reveal the nature of Johan and Marianne's relationship in the opening scene?

Bergman strategically creates a scene where Johan and Marianne are being interviewed by a reporter from a magazine who asks about their marriage to which Johan declares they have a great one. But, Bergman reveals through physical gestures that this couple is far from perfect. Johan covers his insecurities with bragging about himself, while Marianne shows her lack of desire for physical touch and intimacy with Johan when she removes his arm promptly from her waist. We see that these are two practical people who have settled for less than they desired for marriage and have chosen to pretend they have a wonderful thing...but, they don't have love.

Why does Bergman choose to use red in the kitchen scene with Johan and Marianne?

After Katarian and Peter leave from Johan and Marianne's home (after having a dinner where they brutalize one another), Marianne and Johan speak about their marriage and how great it is and wash over their fears of being like the other couple. Bergman shoots them cleaning dishes with a red backsplash and a lamp shade that is red over the table. The color stands out as a warning that this couple's marriage has much more going on than they are letting on to one another, a fact that is revealed as the story progresses.

Why did Johan and Marianne agree to get married?

Marianne tells a reporter during an interview that they got married, not for love, but because they were both unhappy. Each of them were coming out of divorces for different reasons, but neither of them could stand the other previously. They simply made an agreement, or a contract as Johan calls it, that they "renew" every ten years. We are seeing that these two people didn't marry one another because they were madly in love with one another; they married out of loneliness and practicality.