Persona

Released Mar 6, 1967

1h 21m

Drama

List

91%

Tomatometer

58 Reviews

94%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Famed stage actress Elisabeth Vogler (Liv Ullmann) suffers a moment of blankness during a performance and the next day lapses into total silence. Advised by her doctor to take time off to recover from what appears to be an emotional breakdown, Elisabeth goes to a beach house on the Baltic Sea with only Anna (Bibi Andersson), a nurse, as company. Over the next several weeks, as Anna struggles to reach her mute patient, the two women find themselves experiencing a strange emotional convergence.

Critics Consensus

Arguably Bergman's finest film, Persona explores the human condition with intense curiosity, immense technical skill, and beguiling warmth.

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Susan Sontag

Sight & Sound

A succession of ever more difficult and rewarding films has turned up in recent years. But that good fortune releases nobody who cares about films from acclaiming work as original and triumphant as Persona.

May 3, 2024

Full Review

Kevin Maher

Times (UK)

... A nifty, stylish and unforgettable hour and a half.

Rated: 5/5

Jul 14, 2023

Full Review

David Jenkins

Little White Lies

Hardcore surrealism is rarely this enjoyable.

Rated: 5/5

Jan 2, 2018

Full Review

Fico Cangiano

CineXpress Podcast

A quintessential example of avant-garde cinema. Bergman's influential film holds so much more than one initially thinks. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 4.5/5

Aug 1, 2024

Full Review

Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

The quintessential, mid-century art film...

Rated: 3.5/4

Mar 1, 2023

Full Review

Barbara Grier

The Ladder

The movie is weird, as are all of [Bergman's], but it is worth seeing -- even twice.

Jun 30, 2021

Full Review

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Pierre G

An outstanding, minimalist film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/14/24

Full Review

Sam F

The alpha and the omega, the single movie I would take with me if I could only save one.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/11/24

Full Review

John A

Bergman certainly does a visual and textured number on the viewer in multiple facets. Although puzzling it is compelling and even somewhat haunting.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/23/24

Full Review

Cody P

I also have schizophrenia no I don't

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/18/24

Full Review

Alec B

Setting aside the fact that the movie's influence is massive, "Persona" remains a gorgeous and intimate experience, as much about watching films as it is a character study. Andersson and Ullmann give towering, absolutely perfect performances.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/09/24

Full Review

nick s

Wonderful acting & directing. Bergman is skilled at getting the audience up close and personal with his characters without boring them to tears. He does this through artistic flourishes - moody, cinematography, lighting, intriguing dialogue. However if you don't connect with that arty stuff there's not a lot else.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/03/24

Full Review

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Ingmar Bergman

Director

Bibi Andersson

Alma, The Nurse

Liv Ullmann

Elisabeth Vogler, The Actress

Gunnar Björnstrand

Mr. Vogler

Margareta Krook

The Doctor

Jörgen Lindström

The Boy, Elisabeth's Son (uncredited)

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Synopsis

Famed stage actress Elisabeth Vogler (Liv Ullmann) suffers a moment of blankness during a performance and the next day lapses into total silence. Advised by her doctor to take time off to recover from what appears to be an emotional breakdown, Elisabeth goes to a beach house on the Baltic Sea with only Anna (Bibi Andersson), a nurse, as company. Over the next several weeks, as Anna struggles to reach her mute patient, the two women find themselves experiencing a strange emotional convergence.

Director: Ingmar Bergman
Producer: Ingmar Bergman
Screenwriter: Ingmar Bergman
Distributor: Video Yesteryear, United Artists, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc., Reel Media International [us], Lopert Pictures Corp.
Production Co: Svensk Filmindustri
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Swedish
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 6, 1967, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 11, 2017
Runtime: 1h 21m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1)

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