Persona

'Film as dream, film as music. No art passes our conscience in the way film does, and goes directly to our feelings, deep down into the dark rooms of our souls'- Ingmar Berman

Swedish man, Ingmar Berman is one of the most known non-Hollywood directors. As Bergman says of his film Persona (1966) it is a 'poem in images' which makes for quite a confusing film that could be interpreted many ways and sits between reality and dreams. Though confusing it does not need to be understood to be appreciated.

The opening sequence of random and disturbing images explanes this idea of visual poetry and dreams, however the shots of film reels tell the audience they are about to watch a film. Two women are isolated from the world in order to free seemingly mute patient Elisabet and leads to the deconstruction of nurse Alma. Alma's persona is revealed and two women get caught up and lost within each other.


The film comments on how destructive the human will can be and what is reality?. Berman uses the camera to tell the story, with extreme, tight close-ups and minimal camera movement so the audience can fully study the characters faces and look deep into their persona.