I knew of Bergman's depiction of human behavior and nature from The Seventh Seal. With Persona, he provides a more in-depth glance on both topics. (On a different note, why do most foreign films focus on those two mainly?)
It's hard to say which of the two leading ladies gave the better performance. Bibi Andersson's Alma tells of every detail of her life, many of them she never told anyone before. She soon starts speaking for both women, and her transition from each personality is astonishing.
On the flip side, Liv Ullmann's Elisabet Vogler speaks volumes by barely speaking at all. She clearly has a perplexing personality, yet we still wonder about her after we've learned everything about her. Every emotion of hers is played across her face yet she is devoid of any. (Well, except for an early scene.)
Persona really makes you think about one's identity, who we are in society. It also captures two of the best female performances I've seen. And maybe, just maybe, I'll be able to understand Mulholland Drive a little better if at all.
My Rating: *****
Nice review, glad you liked the flick. Try Through a Glass Darkly next. Or Wild Strawberries. Or Fanny and Alexander. Or Cries and Whispers. Cries and Whispers is the most similar one to Persona.
ReplyDeleteGlad you dug this flick, it's one of my all time favorites. Definitely agree with Tyler on the Bergman flicks you should see. I love that man, the emotional power of his films, to me, is endless.
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