PERSONA (1966) - Movie Review

Sorry I said the release date for this movie wrong. I suck sometimes.
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[@robertcongdon6296]

New subscriber. So many of the critics found here on KZbin are reactionary, self-important blowhards and its great to find someone who is a complete antithesis to that. It's so very nice to find a film critic who is knowledgeable, articulate, and so pleasant to listen to. Thanks. I'm sure I'll be a long time subscriber!

[@carlgustafnykvist8027]

Thanks for talking of Persona. Ive been so close to this film. Ive been brought up whit it. My father was the Cinematographer on this film. Its a great review, deep and honest.

[@erikfreitas7093]

Your father is a legend! A truly great cinematographer!

[@Mauricio21ish]

I found the film to be a reflection of oneself, the younger self and most lively and optimistic coming back to take care of the disillusioned and flawed present self, only to lear from the wisdom of the present self, and in the end abandone the attempt at redemption. Beautiful film, one if the best I’ve ever seen

[@richardrose2606]

Persona is a masterpiece. It's pure film - it does what no other art form can do be it a play, novel or even opera. The performances of the two actresses are phenomenal.

[@aidanlastname0187]

“Masterpiece” lmao this movie sucks

[@janusrose7113]

every single time i go on yt and search one of my favorite films you have already posted the most thoughtful and beautiful take 💖💖

[@thebossman80s]

I found this film the hardest to grasp out of all the Bergman films I’ve seen so you contextualising it into words really helped. Thanks!

[@tonybennett4159]

Thank you, such an interesting review. My thoughts : I have the feeling that Elizabeth, as an actress is presenting performances that can help the audience make sense of the world, while she herself is laying herself bare. I think it is no accident that she dries up during a performance of Elektra, as she realises that there are horrors than can never be articulated, never explained, so she decides, like the audience, to become an observer, to try to move closer to truth and understanding. An audience doesn't interrogate the players or the play, she does likewise in her observation of Alma, now the actress in her personal drama, her one woman show. I think many of the films themes develop naturally from an idea like this. But hey, maybe Bergman never had that idea, but it's great that a film like this encourages so many interpretations. It's endlessly fascinating.

[@nicholas4727]

Just got done watching persona, I loved it. The monologue Alma has about her sexual experience at the beach was absolutely stunning I felt I was in the room listening to the story. Also I know it's a few weeks old but great review.

[@john.k.flores]

Always appreciate your thoughtful and well-articulated reviews, Maggie! Bergman is one of my fave filmmakers, and I really hope you do more of his films in the future as each one provides so much interesting material to ruminate on. Excited for you to hit 10k! Keep up the great work!

[@spikemufc]

Sunset blvd., All About Eve, Persona, Three Women, M. Drive - they all have similar interwoven themes. And all are great movies.

[@whatthedeuce92]

Beautifully articulated review. Just watched this movie for the first time last night and I had trouble putting my analysis into words when discussing it. This helped a lot, thank you!

[@plateoshrimp9685]

Thanks for all the great reviews. You do some of the best film criticism on youtube.

[@zaikkiaz3113]

Great review: you put into words really insightful and dense topics in a clear and articulate way. Paraphrasing spanish philosopher Ortega, "clarity is the philosopher's courtesy" and you excel at that. This movie is surely thick as a brick but in an "erotic" or "playful" way that invites the viewer to take a deep dive in its themes and I feel like you beautifully encapsulate this sentiment.

[@Parkour_dog]

Watching Persona last night, I wondered if it had a hand in inspiring Zulawski’s Possession. I guess loss of identity and autonomy in relationships will always remind me of Possession.

[@hmod444.]

you articulated everything i had in mind so perfectly!!!! thank you for this.

[@kireacts6026]

You deserve alot more subs than what you have keep it up !!!

[@ShedSoundsMediawithIanBeabout]

I just discovered your channel and I love it ! The Persona / Mulholland Dr connection is perfect. Both amazing films !!

[@NEELSAN76]

Thanks for curing my boredom. You're always fun to watch. I dig your fashion choices. If your closet could talk, I would listen. I'm not sure if that makes any sense but, thanks for sharing.

[@taiebelfelah8032]

Just discovered you channel, I really liked your review of PERSONA ( I just finished watching it, and loved it ), I'm gonna check out your other reviews. Keep the good work.

[@indiopeltier9758]

Awesome review as always.Also your checker shirt is badass.Thanks again, Peace

[@iansmart4158]

About to watch the review, but that's a fly checkerboard top. Dope style. Edit: I saw this for the first time a few months ago. Still don't have a real grasp on it, but there are moments and interactions that kind of linger in my brain. I liked your review quite a bit. I need to watch it again, but I do agree that there are moments unlike anything else I've ever seen in a movie.

[@ynezmyers18]

This is a really great, detailed and digestible analysis. Thank u!

[@tjebbedonckers]

My favourite movie reviewer reviewing one of my favourite movies = LIKE!

[@safiulhamidaasem8352]

Hey Maggie persona was great and so as your review. I also really appreciate the way you perceive or judge good actor , really interested to know your top two best actors of all time

[@andrewreed4924]

Always enjoy hearing your thoughtful reviews on so many great films. I'd be curious to see your review of the film SHIRLEY by Josephine Decker now that it's available on Hulu. While watching it the other day I found a lot of parallels to PERSONA and consequently found this review of yours that I'd somehow missed!

[@kimberry2010]

You are one of my FAVORITE film reviewers on You Tube. Brilliant! Are you writing a book?

[@filmbuff2777]

One of my favourite Bergman films.

[@davefsmith6040]

Persona reminds me of Altman's 3 Women .... has a lot of the same themes, in my opinion ... you begin to wonder how much of what we see is only an extension of Millie's world, not the reality. I like both pictures a lot.

[@niallphillips7045]

As always...wonderful work.

[@AbdulmajeedAlhawas]

A very well articulated review

[@classicvideogoodies]

You see this movie's influence in something as different as The Silence of the Lambs, with its scenes of psychological confessions and closeups of faces. Mulholland Dr also has clear inspirations from Persona.

[@paulmikael7955]

One of the Absolutely Best Review of Persona:)

[@4ththe5th46]

I just saw Liv's guest appearance on a classic "Johnny Carson" episode... So had to check out some films on Y/T...and followed the thread to your channel...really spot-on!!! "Thumbs up" and a Sub...BRAVO!!!

[@13Tiradentes]

Interesting choice for the character name "Alma" in this film especially given the whole idea of convergence of the two principals. It means "soul" in Portuguese & Spanish. I appreciate your making me aware.

[@henrye6245]

It's refreshing that you review arthouse films and more obscure but acclaimed films. Very underrated, keep up the good work

[@Hritik9000]

Persona is obscure??? Seriously??? Its quite famous.

[@henrye6245]

@@Hritik9000 the layman doesn't know who Bergman is, I know with a little bit of film knowledge you give Bergman the respect he deserves but most people don't know his name at least in my country

[@Hritik9000]

@@henrye6245 true, but people who are into film know about Persona. Obviously the non cinephile wouldn't know about him.

[@michaelkenny7467]

Very good review. But I quibble with two points that are related. I do not agree that how to understand it is entirely subjective and left to the viewer. Bergman is, as an Existentialist, looking for what is metaphysically true of all of us in what our individual, subjective experiences reveal. Such frame of reference is not per se subjective, but explores the subjective to understand the overall human condition, which does have its truth. This relates directly to the second point, which is that the two women are not the same person on any literal level, even as a possible interpretation. Rather it is that Persona shows the two attempting to understand each other in order to better understand themselves. And ultimately failing to do so beyond a certain point. That in turn leads to the question what they do in fact achieve, and whether it was worth the effort. On THAT point the ending is open ended, and does leave us open to consider what is the answer, based on what we think the two have learned going forward. In other words, in addressing their attempts to be closer, to understand the other, they but especially Alma lose some of their own self identity, but do not achieve anything close to a unity with the other character. The attempts fail as the nature of the mediating presence of our personas limits our abilities to truly understand each other. The extent to which the images suggest any melding or unity of identity is actually present instead confront us with the limitations of our abilities to understand not only each other but ourselves.

[@Jacob-hk6to]

Youre almost at 10,000 subscribers!!

[@deepfocuslens]

I know! Tis exciting. :)

[@anthonyburn1010]

Absolutely agree on the obvious parallels between Persona and Mulholland Drive. I feel the former doffs its cap to the latter on numerous occasions. My favourite Bergman film.

[@eeriedragonjiheun838]

Quick, gotta think of something creative to say. uh.......you look like hipster Freddy Krueger.

[@mydology1089]

Best review on KZbin. Love from Lahore, Pakistan

[@jakeocallaghan6402]

I don’t think I’ve ever analyzed a film like Persona. In some ways, he summarized the trilogy of exceptional films before and yet made it fully unique. Definitely too 10 of all time

[@meaningoftheunicorn]

I agree that the movie is about the layers of self in unity and disunity at alternate times with undercurrents of sexuality. Great review. Have you seen the Korean film Poetry (2011)? I wager that you'd love that movie. Very Bergman-esque. It has different but equally profound themes on aging and mortality.

[@anthonywheeler2082]

I've seen The Seventh Seal but I have yet to see this one . Thanks for putting this on my radar!

[@passionforguns]

Would love you to review: “Oh’ Lucky Man” with Malcolm McDowell.

[@vanhoywilliam2439]

Deepfocuslens...agree with you, and the black-and-white adds to the creepiness. Also has some scares, like Antichrist...know youve recently reviewed Hereditary and I find it interesting Ari Aster credits Bergman as an influence...although he doesn't mention Persona.

[@fredthewaterboy]

Just watched a number of your videos. Would you ever plan on adding some clips of the film/ screenshots to give a visual to the dialogue?

[@asunnynight9592]

I admire your passion and decorum and intellect.

[@hetrogamr84]

Persona not just video games. Thanks for the knowledge. If only I had unto you to sit with when watching films.

[@davidward4329]

Hi back in 1976 I did see it , was doing Arthouse cinema 3 movies per week x 3 years. So I went back to see again last week on KZbin. I was blown away , It’s a masterpiece of cinema , I don’t say that lightly.

[@65g4]

I just saw this film for the first time great film really enjoyed it great review

[@HomeAtLast501]

"Mulholland Drive" and "Jacob's Ladder" are basically the same film --- the protagonists in each film are going through an unconscious struggle in dream logic as they approach death.

[@suumcuique4530]

love your passion

[@ColorNonce1037]

You have great taste in movies.

[@ilqar887]

What do you think about seventh seal?

[@domwalker6526]

Gonna be watching this tonight. Very excited

[@ChristianHernandez55]

I feel like this was “Fight Club” before there was ever “Fight Club.” Not only the thematic elements of fusing identities, but even film techniques like subliminal imagery and the effect of the film coming off of the reels (in the middle of the movie). This was a stunning movie, and I think it would still shock people if it were released today.

[@NostalgiNorden]

There is a subtle persona-reference in Fight Club ;)

[@filmbuff2777]

Fight Club spoon feeds the audience the "twist" & is extremely shallow & pretentious.

[@themoreyouknowfools4974]

@@NostalgiNorden they film stock and the dick flash shows

[@thedude3853]

Fight Club is trash.

[@lamegoldfish6736]

Vampires suck. You just forget sometimes. 😁 Very good review.

[@Ninisclip]

very interesting and nice rewiew !! (: Keep it up like this!!

[@FriedZime]

Fantastic review for a fantastic film.

[@ChinthaDhara]

Amazing review...as a metaphor researcher, I suspend my judgement of this film. It always shows something new. Perhaps I must follow Donald Davidson.

[@Kaizoku-o_PirateKing]

Very interesting review!

[@dannyk7226]

Love your vids

[@nickadams1992]

Nicely done. Now pass me the sheep’s eye...

[@Shah-of-the-Shinebox]

I can't help but feel that Persona was a small influence on The Lighthouse.

[@looney1023]

Just watched it and I 100% agree. This sounds reductive but I think The Lighthouse takes the basic premise of Persona and substitutes everything that's stereotypically feminine (nurturing/caretaking, nursing, pregnancy, "girl talk") and substitutes it with stereotypically masculine things (physical strength, working, physical labor, destruction, giant phalluses lol ) and plays the same scenario out. Both of them lead to similar hostile, frightening territory, but The Lighthouse winds up being more violent and bombastic as a result of the gender switch

[@filmfredrik]

One of my absolute favourites, along with 2001.

[@Crazea]

Like what you did with that top!

[@looney1023]

I just watched this for the first time and it's certainly not enough to digest it fully, but what's most amazing to me from that first viewing is how the film somehow makes Bibi Andersson and Liv Ullman, who don't look that much like each other, nearly indistinguishable. By the end I was genuinely questioning which actor portrayed which character.

[@Alexlinnk]

It's gorgeous o watch it at a movie theater, I am so happy.

[@oskitello1707]

Wow, you reviewed my favourite Bergman's movie. However I saw it several years ago & only few Bergman's movies total but this film made the biggest impression. Your review is a motivation to watch it again. I'll be back.

Your review was really good. You're a very smart woman.

[@omeshsingh8091]

Persona is my favorite Bergman film. It is in my top 20 films of all time. Indeed he made so many great films and quite a few I still haven't gotten on Blu-ray. You guys are lucky in America to have Criterion's Bergman Collection that came out last month.

[@omeshsingh8091]

@Ranshitha Kularathna My list evolves slowly over time but there you go: 01. Wonder Woman (2017) 02. Ugetsu Monogatari (1953) 03. The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928) 04. Mirror (1975) 05. Koyaanisqatsi (1982) 06. Spirited Away (2001) 07. Rear Window (1954) 08. The Life of Oharu (1952) 09. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) 10. City Lights (1931) 11. Persona (1966) 12. Rashomon (1950) 13. Le Enfants Du Paradis (1945) 14. How to Train Your Dragon (2010) 15. The Circus (1928) 16. Psycho (1960) 17. Your Name. (2015) 18. The Seventh Seal (1957) 19. 13 Assassins (2010) 20. Ordet (1955) I'm a huge fan of Mizoguchi, Chaplin and Dreyer. Enough about me though, please share your personal list as well. I'm always keen to discover new films or to be encouraged to revisit films that perhaps I've written off prematurely. On more than one occasion a bad mood or tonal preference on my part has blinded me to the depths that a film has to offer. So it's always good to hear from others.

[@omeshsingh8091]

@Ranshitha Kularathna Great selection.

[@tonybennett4159]

@@omeshsingh8091This is fun! Can I play? In alphabetical order : Belle de Jour Chinatown The Conversation Don't Look Now The Elephant Man The innocents Lawrence of Arabia L'Avventura The Leopard Mirror The Passenger North by Northwest Once Upon a Time in America Paths of Glory Persona The Third Man 2001 a Space Odyssey El Sur (The South) Wild Strawberries The World of Apu Warning: This list will probably be different tomorrow!

[@aidanlastname0187]

Top 20 films of all time? Lol your taste must be terrible then.

[@vanhoywilliam2439]

...one more thing, Deepfocuslens, Ari Aster credits Cries And Whispers as an influence. And Carrie, in the horror genre, instead of Dario Argento's Suspiria and Inferno. Okay, that's two more things. Your thoughts?

[@aimeniasfilms4379]

Not my favorite personally. But it's up there

[@petersonj198]

Love this movie! Do you like Altman's 'Three Women'?

[@deepfocuslens]

Interesting you should ask. After watching this movie I have an urge to watch and review that one at some point.

[@HowToWatchMovies]

@@deepfocuslens God, please do it! I don't think you've ever reviewed an Altman film and I'm dying to know your opinion on his stuff.

[@Myhighconstitution]

Would you consider doing a review of this year's Suspiria remake? I would be really interested in hearing your thoughts on it!

[@deepfocuslens]

Whenever it is available to stream, I will most certainly watch and do a review of it.

[@Myhighconstitution]

deepfocuslens Okay cool. I have really conflicted thoughts about it myself, but I look forward to hearing your take on it.

[@matiassanz3694]

Hey Maggie. Do you have a Letterboxd account?

[@sergiob8873]

Read the Susan Sontag`s reflections about the film, it`s amazing.

[@johnreremoana9564]

l'm not familiar with this movie but, still a good review though.👍

[@leobergmiller873]

this film is in my top 10 of all time

[@aidanlastname0187]

Your taste in movies is terrible if this garbage is in your top 10

[@Akkadianvolcano]

I watched Persona recently for the first time and I'm still not sure if I like it or not... I love the camerawork, editing and sound design, and the two actresses are fantastic but I think the mainly cerebreal nature of the film left me a little cold. Not to say it isn't emotional but maybe I just didn't buy what the characters are doing in the film and how they both start "acting". Obviously this is part of the surreal nature of the film; that the protagonists emotions and questioning reality is brought to the extreme. Part of me thinks it could of gone further, maybe? I almost want to say the subject matter demands more drama and more insanity on screen like the crazy edits and more great scenes but then maybe more drama would take away from the sad eerie bipolar atmosphere of the film. As you can no doubt tell, I'm as stuck in two minds about the film as the characters in the film itself. I loved it technically but as a full experience it left me cold Definately gonna rewatch it at some point and maybe I'll feel differently Great review, btw! You're one of the best reviewers of the more obscure art movies on youtube

[@lilsk5229]

I feel the exact same as you. I appreciate the cinematic efforts and detail, but the way the theme of the film was executed felt a bit underwhelming to me

[@michaelsmith1262]

Just watched this and wow was it a trip. I still don't know what I think about it. Speaking to the quick inserts at the beginning, I was like "was that a penis"? Yes, it was. WTF? That has to be the inspiration for that being in Fight Club.

[@javatitus8669]

came out in 1966, imdb.. great channel

[@deepfocuslens]

That sounds way more accurate. Thanks for pointing out my glaring flaws. haha ;)

[@javatitus8669]

just put an annotation at that time.. happy to help.

[@ethidian3444]

deepfocuslens the hit-pieces are coming.

[@classicmodernfilms7602]

You sound so brilliant and I can tell you love movies in general. I Subbed. Very interested to here your thoughts of other movies. I began to have more appreciation for Ingmar Bergman. His movies seem poetic and just like Persona there not easy to understand. But it almost follows a same story like Mulholland Drive. In fact I just made a comparison video of this one to Mulholland Drive. I don't know if you would be interested to check it out and see what you think? See ya :)

[@fabiesque]

this movie was really amazing....and I did not have the feeling for a second that it's an "old" movie....

[@davel2858]

You should review more movies that have been picked up by the Criterion collection...(this one was) , You'd find more great movies to review...that are absolute classics that have been restored. Go to Barnes and Noble one day and just survey the hundreds and hundreds of titles that are out... to give your self ideas...or just visit the website..or even do a search on KZbin for Criterion reviews.

[@tomislavcehajic9642]

Ingmar Bergman is my favorit director

[@aryapraagya]

You should check out Monologue by Adoor Gopalkrishnan on KZbin. Its been compared so much to Persona

[@meesalikeu]

excellent review. i wish you were mic’d better though, the sound is a bit too distant. otherwise your voice, pitch, clarity, pace and all that is top shelf. thats especially important when discussing films by bergman, lynch and the like vs micheal bay movies, because we really want to be able to think about what you have to say.

[@HomeAtLast501]

I love the film, but, I must say, the whole premise of her stopping speaking is contrived, and very reminiscent of the plot devices the French use in film.

[@andrew19vato]

Love this movie, i don't get it lol but yeah it kinda made me feel quite nice if you know what i mean

[@CoryCapron]

Love this film! Some other favorite Bergman films if you haven't seen yet. Cries and Whispers Shame Hour of the Wolf

[@safespacebear]

It was an enjoyable film right up until the letter and after that I was just hanging on for dear life

[@HamzaTalksFootball]

You have overtaken Stickman and Jahns in my eyes- in terms of who I go to for film reviews. 😂 All are great but you go into much more depth than those guys. Watch film, check if Deepfocuslens has a review of the film, and repeat. 😂

[@HomeAtLast501]

You should wear more olive green --- it's your color.

[@akshaywalke19]

👍👍👍

[@DoomyRei]

Whyyyyy

[@ethidian3444]

Ingmar Bergman rules! Except for the fact that he made too many movies... fuck.

[@paulsmith5906]

You have to approach this film like a detective approaches a crime scene,just as you must with its inferior cousin,Mulholland Drive. This is not a literal work about a woman who is treated for a mental breakdown by a nurse on an island retreat.Bergman is speaking to us figuratively not literally.Pretty basic actually.You dont need to be Sherlock to work that one out. Nothing in the film happens randomly.Every single frame is there for a reason.This is Ingmar Bergman.Its only 88 minutes but if you consider that almost every frame is a puzzle in itself it becomes a mammoth task of code-breaking.Some like that,some dont. Watch it alone when well rested and focused.I believe it is decipherable. Bergman was speaking figuratively but with very specific intent.Its not open to interpretation as some claim.There arent two women in reality.The title,Bibi Andersson's character name and the morphing of Ullmann and Andersson's faces are big giveaways, but theres a myriad of other clues(black hat vs white hat,left hand vs right hand,hair sweep with left vs right hand,the use of mirrors) far less perceptible,and yet still more that only Sherlock Holmes or Gustav Jung could decipher. Brilliant work of art,greatest film ever made hands down.

[@blinkzone1]

"Shame"

[@lumberpilot]

I studied this film in college and got an A for my analysis. The teacher read it to the class but I was absent that day.