Persona (1966)
Ingmar Bergman's most personal and original film.
1966-10-18 · Drama · 85 min
Directed by Ingmar Bergman
Overview
A young nurse, Alma, is put in charge of Elisabeth Vogler: an actress who is seemingly healthy in all respects, but will not talk. As they spend time together, Alma speaks to Elisabeth constantly, never receiving any answer.
Cast
-
Bibi Andersson
Alma
-
Liv Ullmann
Elisabet Vogler
-
Margaretha Krook
The Doctor
-
Gunnar Björnstrand
Herr Vogler
-
Jörgen Lindström
Elisabet's Son (uncredited)
- Thích Quảng Đức Self - burning monk (archive footage)
Crew
- Director
- Ingmar Bergman
- Director of Photography
- Sven Nykvist
- Editor
- Ulla Ryghe
- Original Music Composer
- Lars Johan Werle
- Producer
- Ingmar Bergman
- Screenplay
- Ingmar Bergman
- Story
- Ingmar Bergman
Details
- Revenue
- $250,000
- IMDb
- tt0060827
- TMDB
- 797
Keywords
Videos
- 60th anniversary trailer [Subtitled] Trailer
- Trailer [Subtitled] Trailer
Reviews
CinemaSerf · ★ 7 · 2023-08-06
This is one of my favourite Bergman films that darkly and potently showcases the skills of two women at the top of their game. "Elisabeth" (Liv Ullmann) is an acclaimed stage actress who, mid-performance, is struck dumb. Nobody is quite sure what has caused this, but a nurse is duly hired to take care of her. "Alma" (Bibi Andersson) arrives and soon comes to believe that the silence of her charge is her choice. She simply doesn't want to talk! Devoid of visitors, "Alma" constantly chatters to "Elisabeth" and a bond starts to develop between the two, outwardly profoundly different, women that challenges both of their preconceived ideas of the other. The latter is keen to emulate the former, the former is ultimately keen to prevent her new friend from doing precisely that. Why? What might have caused "Elisabeth" to take such an impenetrable refuge? Essentially this two hander is a monologue; there is precious little by way of contribution from anyone else as the characterisations intensify and the story becomes one of attrition, to an extent, but of cruelty - and of evaluating the sources and causes of cruelty, as well as providing us with a poignantly sensitive look at intimacy and maybe even optimism. I'm certain that there are other depths and allegorical aspects to this that I didn't necessarily appreciate, but unlike with many of this director's films, I found the personas represented here to have more relevance and humanity that in many of his previous works. Coupled with the condensed nature of the storytelling, a strongly complementary score and some effective outdoor cinematography this makes for a compelling film to watch.
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