"Faithless" Delves Into the Complex Tapestry Created by Desire

Photo Credit: TIFF

Taking on the challenge of adapting a story written by Ingmar Bergman is not for the weak. Fortunately for us, Swedish director Tomas Alfredson has taken on the challenge and ran with it. Accompanied by screenwriter Sara Johnsen, Alfredson has turned Bergman’s 2000 film of the same name and turned the world of these characters into one of an all-consuming and magnetic affair — one whose passion is only rivaled by the destruction they leave in their wake.

Photo Credit: Movie Web

At the heart of Faithless (2024) is attraction on every level. Right off the bat, the creeping score and saturated visuals draws us into the world of a young David (Gustav Lindh). We follow him as he arrives at the home of actress Marianne (Frida Gustavsson) and her pianist husband, Markus (August Wittgenstein). The series quickly dives into its almost voyeuristic nature as we watch Marianne, Markus, and their daughter Isabelle from afar alongside David. David even lurks in the background as Marianne watches her family. However, the moment their affair truly begins is through a glance.

Photo Credit: Movie Web

From here on out, we peer into moments of their lives as their families and world begin to become enveloped in each other. We watch from afar as they share longing gazes. David and Marianne’s chemistry is magnetic — thanks in large part to the care and attention that is paid to their affair. The episodic format of Faithless works in its favor in this aspect, allowing us to spend the time with them to watch as their affair slowly begins to develop from glances to touches to dependence on each other.

Faithless is careful not to tell us too much. It’s an affair that, initially, is almost reminiscent of Wong Kar Wai’s In the Mood For Love. We have no idea where and when the dialogue and the relationship between the two main characters crosses into and out of romance and lust. Instead, we are forced to rely on our understanding of the characters to discern the nature of their relationship at any given point in time.

Despite the care taken to ensure that their attraction to each other is undeniable, we are consistently faced with the consequences of their actions. With every moment that their affair is furthered comes a moment where we are reminded of Isabelle or Markus. The lilting piano score, a consistent reminder of Markus, accompanies almost every step David and Marianne take into crossing the line. Additionally, at the end of every scene between the two of them, we are forced to reconcile our innate desire as viewers for them to get together with the effects that it has on Isabelle — Marianne’s daughter who has a special reverence and love for David.

This especially holds true when we are presented with the older versions of David and Marianne — played by Jesper Christensen and Lena Endre, who reprises her role as Marianne from the original 2000 Bergman film. We watch as the consequences of their affair together play out alongside the development of the affair itself. We watch as their worlds crash together, fall apart, and reunite over and over again and how their understanding of each other and their desire falls apart when faced with the consequences of their actions.

Faithless is an exploration into the worlds of these two characters that keeps you wanting more at all times. The magnetic performances by Lindh and Gustavsson as David and Marianne are only matched by the incredibly tight and self-referential screenplay. Johnsen has managed to achieve the seemingly impossible task of adapting a Bergman screenplay and improving upon it, and she has done this by allowing Marianne to have autonomy in her own story and refusing to waste a sentence spoken on screen. But, of course, the achievements of the screenplay would be impossible without all of the elements of filmmaking that brought it to life. The direction and cinematography brought to life the world Bergman and Johnsen have created and visually communicated to us everything that we needed to understand these characters without forcing the writing to explicitly tell us what we need to know.

With an episodic format that truly allows us to breathe and explore the full weight of Faithless’ titular affair, Alfredson has earned a full 5/5 stars from me. The only thing I ask is that this series be put onto Letterboxd so that I can give it a spot in my fav four.