Common themes in his highly theatrical, visually striking films were man's ultimate isolation; the difficulty marriage; the life of the soul; and a being's constant grappling with the looming realities of religion, the meaning of life, and the eventuality of death. His characters were often embarking on journeys, both actual and metaphysical, and lived much of their lives inside their heads. The surrealistic dream sequence was a device frequently used by Mr. Bergman (and sent up by those who wished to parody his style). His films were those of a restless man forever questioning what he knew or didn't know about existence.