Persona (1966 film)
| Persona | |
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The original Swedish poster
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| Directed by | Ingmar Bergman |
| Produced by | Ingmar Bergman |
| Written by | Ingmar Bergman |
| Starring |
Bibi Andersson Liv Ullmann |
| Music by | Lars Johan Werle |
| Cinematography | Sven Nykvist |
| Edited by | Ulla Ryghe |
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Production
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| Distributed by | AB Svensk Filmindustri (Sweden), Lopert Pictures (US), MGM (2004, DVD) |
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Release date
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Running time
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84 minutes |
| Country | Sweden |
| Language | Swedish |
| Box office | $250,000 (US) |
Persona is a 1966 Swedish psychological drama film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman and starring Bibi Andersson and Liv Ullmann. Persona’s story revolves around a young nurse named Alma (Andersson) and her patient, a well-known stage actress named Elisabet Vogler (Ullmann), who has suddenly ceased to speak. The two move to a cottage, where Alma cares for and talks to Elisabet about intimate secrets, and becomes troubled distinguishing herself from her.
Bergman wrote the film with Ullmann and Andersson in mind for the lead parts, and some idea of exploring their identities, and shot the film in and Fårö. Often categorized as a psychological horror, Persona deals with themes of duality, insanity, and personal identity.
In its release, the film was subject to cuts because of its controversial subject matter but received positive reviews. It won the award for Best Film at the 4th Guldbagge Awards and was Sweden's entry for consideration for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Many critics consider it one of the greatest films ever made, and it has been the subject of a vast amount of analysis, interpretation and debate. The film has influenced many later directors, such as Robert Altman and David Lynch.
After a series of images including a crucifixion, tarantula and the killing of a lamb, a boy wakes up in a hospital or morgue and pulls up to a large screen, which shows a blurred image of one or two women. One of these women is possibly Alma, a young nurse who is assigned by a doctor to see a patient, Elisabet Vogler. Elisabet is a stage actress who has suddenly fallen silent and still, although the doctors have determined it is not a result of physical illness or hysteria, but willpower. While at the hospital, Alma reads Elisabet a letter from her husband, which comes with a photo of their son that Elisabet tears. She also becomes distressed seeing TV footage of monk Thích Quảng Đức's self-immolation in the Vietnam War. The doctor decides Elisabet will recover better in a cottage by the sea, and sends Alma and Elisabet there.
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