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The Film: Persona

1966, Sweden

Shakespeare took six words to ask the quintessential human question: “To be or not to be”. Liv Ullman ( as Elizabeth) takes two to answer it “No, don’t!!!”

So began, the now famous review of the film called “Persona”. At the outset, the story is simple enough.

A nurse, Alma (Bibi Andersson), has been assigned to care for a famous actress, Elizabeth (Liv Ullman), who suddenly stopped speaking during a performance of “Electra” and has remained silent ever since. When they go to stay in a seaside house so that Elizabeth can recouperate and come back to the real world, the apparently self-confident nurse gradually reveals more and more of herself in the face of Elizabeth’s silence, and is shocked to read a letter the actress has written implying that Alma is an interesting case-study. The two women seem almost to exchange identities, or to become one…

More complex, however, is to put the e, xperience of watching this masterpiece in to words. A film that questions the basic essence of human identity…if there is any. And if it is, is it not exchangeable?

What amazes me is the amount captured on celluloid in all of 81 minutes. And with 2 central characters, one of whom doesn’t speak at all in the film, and the other who doesn’t stop talking…it’s nothing short of brilliant.

Persona is a stunning film, and there are things that stay with you long after the film is over. One is the now famous, image of a composite face, one half Bibi Andersson’s, the other Liv Ullmann’s. Another is the remarkable monologue where Andersson’s character describes a sexual encounter and its aftermath shrouded with guilt.

There is a lot to ponder over in Persona.

The fist one is Elizabeth’s silence: is it elective or simply mental breakdown?

Why “Electra” of all plays? Does it reflect Alma’s accusation that Elizabeth did not love her deformed son and wanted him dead?

Is Alma talking about Elizabeth or herself or both? And the sexual encounter at the beach, does it really happen?

Are they the same person? Is it all a dream?

Does Alma find her identity? Does Elizabeth talk again?

Its said that this film is based upon Ingmar Berman’s most personal ideas. One doesn’t really know.

It doesn’t take a lot to see that David Lynch’s “Mulholland Drive” borrows a lot from this film, and even though I am a fan of Lynch, I can say without hesitation that Persona is far far superior a film. In every way possible.

If seen already, see it again for it would definitely reveal something new, and if haven’t watched it yet, it’s a crime to miss it!

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