Faithless

Faithless

Year: 2000

Runtime: 154 mins

Language: Swedish

Director: Liv Ullmann

RomanceDrama

Written by Ingmar Bergman, this personal drama depicts actress Marianne and musician Markus whose intense affair shatters their marriage. Marianne moves in with her lover, while Markus denies her custody of their daughter. He later offers a risky solution that plunges them into deception, betrayal and ultimately tragedy.

Faithless (2000) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Faithless (2000) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In a stark, intimate world fashioned by Ingmar Bergman, the film unfolds as a quiet study of desire and duty, where everyday moments pulse with the weight of unspoken conflict. The tone is contemplative yet charged, the cinematography lingering on faces and spaces that seem to hold more than they reveal. It is a realm where personal ambition and emotional fidelity constantly intersect, inviting the audience to linger on the fragile lines between love, art, and responsibility.

Marianne is an actress whose life has been built around performance, both on stage and within the domestic sphere she shares with her husband, Markus, a disciplined orchestra conductor. Their union is anchored by a young daughter, Isabelle, whose presence adds a layer of tenderness and vulnerability to their otherwise measured existence. The couple’s shared devotion to their crafts creates a unique rhythm, yet beneath the surface, an undercurrent of longing begins to stir.

When a close friend, David, enters their orbit, the dynamics shift subtly, hinting at possibilities that threaten the established equilibrium. Marianne finds herself drawn into an emotional entanglement that raises questions about loyalty, identity, and the cost of fulfillment. As the affair deepens, the couple’s marriage faces an inevitable strain, and the prospect of a contested custody arrangement looms, casting a shadow over their familial bonds.

The film’s atmosphere remains suffused with melancholy and introspection, urging viewers to contemplate the choices that define us. Through restrained dialogue and lingering shots, the story examines how love can both illuminate and obscure, how the pursuit of one’s own path can unsettle even the most intimate foundations, and how the characters navigate a landscape where every decision reverberates far beyond the moment it is made.

Last Updated: October 27, 2025 at 16:27

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about affairs destroying marriage like Faithless

Intense affairs that destroy families, leaving a trail of guilt and tragedy.This collection features powerful dramas about infidelity and its tragic fallout. If you were captivated by the painful, destructive affair in Faithless, you'll find similar movies here that explore the heavy emotional weight of betrayal, guilt, and the irreversible breakdown of relationships.

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Narrative Summary

These stories typically begin with a compelling, often irresistible passion that directly challenges an existing marriage. The plot then methodically charts the affair's progression from secret excitement to open confrontation, leading to emotional manipulation, custody battles, and profound loss. The journey is one of moral collapse, where initial desire gives way to lasting tragedy.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread are grouped by their unflinching focus on the corrosive power of an affair. They share a dark tone, heavy emotional weight, and a steady pacing that allows the full consequences of betrayal to unfold. The central theme of a family unit being systematically dismantled by passion creates a cohesive, intense viewing experience.

Confessional dramas with heavy regret like Faithless

Dialogue-driven stories where characters recount their gravest mistakes.Explore movies that, like Faithless, use a confessional narrative style to unpack a story of profound personal failure. These films are defined by their melancholic mood, dialogue-heavy exploration of guilt, and a pacing that allows for deep introspection into the causes and effects of tragic decisions.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a character looking back on a pivotal, often painful, period of their life. The story unfolds through their recollection, blending past events with present-day reflection. This structure emphasizes the themes of memory, accountability, and the haunting nature of regret, leading to a conclusion where the full emotional cost is realized.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their reflective, introspective nature and a melancholic mood centered on regret. They share a steady, deliberate pacing that prioritizes psychological depth over plot twists, and a high emotional intensity derived from characters confronting their own culpability in a devastating outcome.

Unlock the Full Story of Faithless

Don't stop at just watching — explore Faithless in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Faithless is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Faithless Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Faithless, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Faithless Summary

Faithless Timeline

Track the full timeline of Faithless with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Faithless Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Faithless

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Faithless. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Faithless

More About Faithless

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Faithless: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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Similar Movies to Faithless

Discover movies like Faithless that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.