The process of creating thinly veiled fiction is a fascinating one as the author gets under the skin of his characters, examining real events and inventing fantasy to craft a story that rings utterly true. And all the while he's also delving into a very difficult episode from his own life, told mostly in monologues, voiceovers that run across scenes of joy and pain. Endre is absolutely stunning, opening herself up with a raw honesty that is almost embarrassing to watch. We can feel everything along with her, and Josephson's muted responses also ring true in a startling way. All of the performances are gritty and real, bringing out the themes of fidelity and faithfulness--not just sexually, but emotionally, spiritually and intellectually as well. It's a provocative, deeply detailed film, finely crafted both in the studio and in the editing room by Ullman. Yes, it's very long, and its layered structure is a bit exhausting and contrived. But it's well worth seeing ... as long as two and a half hours of intense Swedish drama don't scare you off!