Even 59 Years Later, This 93%-Rated Masterpiece Remains the Best Psychological Drama Ever Made

In 1966, Ingmar Bergman released a movie that changed the way people perceived the possibilities of cinema.

Persona is a film in which two women, a nurse and a patient, engage in such an intense psychological duel that viewers lose track of where one personality ends and the other begins.

Nearly 60 years later, some consider it the pinnacle of Bergman's psychological works, while others see it as a movie about the ineffability of human experience.

What Is 'Persona' About?

Elisabet Vogler, a famous actress, suddenly falls silent during a performance. She hasn't spoken since. Nurse Alma cares for her in a secluded house by the sea.

Elisabet remains silent, but Alma continues to try to draw her out – she opens up about her life, her deepest secrets, her shame, and her desires. Elisabet listens.

But the closer they grow, the more their boundaries blur. Alma begins to feel as if their personalities are swapping. Who's speaking, and who's listening?

In 'Persona', Ingmar Bergman Achieved the Pinnacle of Psychological Depth

The Swedish classic always treated female characters with special reverence. He didn't simplify their portrayals or shortchange them, on the contrary, he placed enormous responsibility on the actresses, thus allowing them to fully express themselves.

Bibi Andersson and Liv Ullmann, the two leading actresses, created an iconic on-screen duo. Ullmann plays a woman who refuses to speak but expresses herself through every glance and gesture.

Andersson plays a nurse who tries to save a patient but gradually loses herself. Persona is shot in contrasting black and white, highlighting the visual beauty and inner turmoil of the characters.

Every frame of Persona is a complete statement, and the close-ups speak louder than any dialogue.

'Persona' Is a Film About the Inability to Express Oneself and the Boundaries of Art

Ingmar Bergman is often described as a cold and detached director, but Persona is an exception – it is a passionate, painful, and tender movie about its heroines.

Elizabet, the actress who has fallen silent, represents Bergman's doubts about the power of his art. Alma, who tries to "cure" Elizabet, represents the viewer who wants to understand but cannot.

The movie asks questions with no clear answers: is it possible to express oneself through words? Can art save? What remains of a person when they stop playing roles?

Persona is a film about the very nature of cinema. It's about how the images created on film take on a life of their own and how actors and characters, nurses and patients, doctors and patients gradually merge into one.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Persona'?

• Persona has 91% from critics and 93% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 8.0/10.

• On Letterboxd, Persona scored 4.4/5.0.

Where to Watch 'Persona'?

Persona is available to stream on HBO Max.