Persona

One of the best 75 films I’ve ever seen.** Ingmar Bergman presents his most complex, surreal, dreamlike, exquisite, impactful film, and undoubtedly his Magnum Opus. Persona is an incredibly complex film, and potentially the most complex in history. I’ve rarely been left doubting the meaning of everything I just watched. I was a fan of Nolan, and while all of his films are “complex,” or at least have unconventional narratives, those films feel like amateurs compared to Persona, which is on a level I still can’t fully comprehend. I plan to rewatch this film as much as I can, and I’d love to document my interpretation of it over those viewings (which reminds me of a scene in the film). But I know I’ll never fully understand it, and that’s okay. Just getting close to it is enough for me. Plus, I feel like there’s no such thing as a “complete” understanding. Everyone will see it differently. Each person will interpret the intro differently (and I’ll get into its importance later), and the same goes for every film, painting, song, photograph, etc... So why mention this if everyone shares that experience? Because Bergman was aware of it. He knew that everyone would interpret it in their own way. We can look at photos that each person will interpret as they see fit. Even in the use of music, and I could keep going like this. Everyone has their own persona. That’s why this film is one of my favorites. What would happen if two people converge and become one? Madness, many would say. The human being wasn’t designed to bear two conflicting ideas at the same time without losing their sanity. We’re not built to carry the emotional weight of two souls at once. The reason I believe this happens in the film is because, when Alma opens up and tells Elisabet everything, we slowly begin to notice—not her descent into madness—but how Elisabet’s persona starts blending with Alma’s. The intro is a summary of what we’ll see in the film. We can see a crucifixion (not necessarily of Christ), a tarantula, what seems to be scenes from a silent comedy movie, a penis (which I suppose we all know Fight Club references), a forest, and other things I’ve forgotten because how could I remember everything when I’m trying to figure out the meaning of this scene? After thinking about it for a while, I think the point is that it has no point. I see it more as if we’re warming up to witness this masterpiece. Bergman knew what he was doing with that. And that’s why, for many other reasons, I believe that intro is the greatest intro we’ll ever see on celluloid. Period. The film is one of the most innovative of all time. It’s obvious that Lynch took inspiration from it, and not just him, many others (including myself, because I will pay homage to it in a film, I promise). Persona is a masterpiece from any angle—artistically, personally, and cinematographically. It is one of the greatest and most significant achievements in the history of cinema. A masterpiece that will never be forgotten. Thanks for reading, and may God bless you!!! 100/100