3370 COM HISTORY OF CINEMA

Kim Vera

TITLE: Persona

RELEASING COMPANY & DATE: AB Svenska October 18, 1966

PRODUCER: Ingmar Bergman          DIRECTOR: Ingmar Bergman

WRITER: Ingmar Bergman

CAST: Bibi Andersson, Liv Ullmann

PRINCIPAL ARTISTS/CRAFTSMEN: Sven Nykvist

THEME OF FILM: Doubling, self loathing and uncertainty

PLOT:

A nurse is hired to help an actress who loses her power of speech. They check into a private cottage, and they become entirely dependent on each other. “It’s the case of the cure being worse than the affliction…”

REVIEWER’S COMMENTS: After watching this film, I still wasn’t quite sure as to what the doubling meant. Alma is the only who talks throughout the film, and Elisabet merely listens — not having anyone to interact would drive a person mad. And even though Elisabet and Alma have formed a sort of bond, there is some tension and jealousy between the two characters. There is also a scene where Alma says, how she would like to become Elisabet on the inside, and how easy it would for Elisabet to become her. My initial thought was that both Alma and Elisabet were the same person. In the scene where Mr. Volger appears, Alma acts as if she had forgotten who she was. Later in the famous scene where both Alma’s and Elisabet’s face morph into one, she argues with her demanding she is Alma and not Elisabet. After the film is over, I am still unsure who is who and whether or not they are two individuals or one.

PLACE IN HISTORY:
A Bergman masterpiece, and considered one of the significant works of the 20th Century.