From the Life of the Marionettes (1980)

In the shadowy underbelly of privilege and prestige, we meet Peter Egermann (Robert Atzorn) – a man of means who has just committed an unthinkable act. He has taken the life of the prostitute, Katarina Krafft (Rita Russek), known affectionately in her circles as "Ka". This confession is entrusted to his confidant and therapist, Mogens Jensen (Martin Benrath), a renowned professor of psychiatry. Hauntingly, this act of violence emerges from the depths of Peter's psyche, where he had previously confessed thoughts of murdering his own wife, Katarina Egermann (Christine Buchegger). The couple, despite their unconventional love and symbiotic sexual relationship, are trapped in a tumultuous whirlwind of emotional discord. In this intricate dance of love and hatred, the question lingers - is "Ka's" murder a prelude or a substitute for his wife's demise? Expanding the narrative universe of "Scenes From A Marriage", acclaimed writer, producer, and director Ingmar Bergman delves deeper into the labyrinth of the Egermanns' childless, contentious relationship. The ensuing plot unfolds in a non-linear exploration of Peter's motivations, threading together elements of a psychological police investigation, intimate vignettes from their married life, and surreal dream sequences. The aftermath of the crime radiates outwards, with the narrative presenting several episodes from both the shared and individual lives of Peter and Katarina, pre and post-murder. These include interviews led by the persistent Inspector, featuring interactions with the self-absorbed and domineering actress Cordelia Egermann (Lola Müthel), Peter's mother, and Tim Mandelbaum (Walter Schmidinger), Katarina's homosexual business partner. Each episode, a piece of the jigsaw, guides us towards Mogens' final assessment of Peter's actions. Set against the backdrop of Ingmar Bergman's tax-exile in Germany, "From the Life of the Marionettes" is a chilling examination of the human psyche. It's a riveting journey into a world where love and madness become indistinguishable, and the strings of sanity are tautly pulled to their breaking point.

From the Life of the Marionettes is a drama movie featuring Robert Atzorn.

From the Life of the Marionettes is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.

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