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Persona (1966 film)
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<p><i>Persona</i> is a 1966 Swedish <a href="/facts/Psychological_drama/XHBd4REp">psychological drama</a> film, written and directed by <a href="/facts/Ingmar_Bergman/bg2u5Flu">Ingmar Bergman</a> and starring <a href="/facts/Bibi_Andersson/mFqp5Qkr">Bibi Andersson</a> and <a href="/facts/Liv_Ullmann/pJMKtoN8">Liv Ullmann</a>. The story revolves around a young nurse named Alma (Andersson) and her patient, well-known stage actress Elisabet Vogler (Ullmann), who has suddenly stopped speaking. They move to a cottage, where Alma cares for Elisabet, confides in her and begins having trouble distinguishing herself from her patient. </p><p>Characterized by elements of <a href="/facts/Psychological_horror/NDClp2bk">psychological horror</a>, <i>Persona</i> has been the subject of much critical analysis, interpretation and debate. The film's exploration of duality, insanity and <a href="/facts/Identity_(social_science)/hCR165VD">personal identity</a> has been interpreted as reflecting the <a href="/facts/Jungian/QDxb1bFd">Jungian</a> theory of <i><a href="/facts/Persona_(psychology)/bPGp4w10">persona</a></i> and dealing with issues related to filmmaking, vampirism, homosexuality, motherhood, abortion and other subjects. The experimental style of its prologue and storytelling has also been noted. The enigmatic film has been called the <a href="/facts/Mount_Everest/hspjxkgv">Mount Everest</a> of cinematic analysis; according to film historian <a href="/facts/Peter_Cowie/XlKPWpPb">Peter Cowie</a>, "Everything one says about <i>Persona</i> may be contradicted; the opposite will also be true". </p><p>Bergman wrote <i>Persona</i> with Ullmann and Andersson in mind for the lead roles and the idea of exploring their identities, and shot the film in <a href="/facts/Stockholm/sD74W4Pm">Stockholm</a> and <a href="/facts/F%C3%A5r%C3%B6/pg3rUE8p">Fårö</a> in 1965. In production, the filmmakers experimented with effects, using smoke and a mirror to frame one scene and combining the lead characters' faces in post-production for one shot. Andersson defended a sexually explicit monologue in the screenplay, and rewrote portions of it. </p><p>When first released, <i>Persona</i> was edited because of its controversial subject matter. It received positive reviews, with Swedish press outlets coining the word <i>Person(a)kult</i> to describe its enthusiastic admirers. It won <a href="/facts/Guldbagge_Award_for_Best_Film/AX3HcCxb">Best Film</a> at the <a href="/facts/4th_Guldbagge_Awards/G3EPG2RR">4th Guldbagge Awards</a>, and was Sweden's entry for the <a href="/facts/Academy_Award_for_Best_Foreign_Language_Film/RlmvINvk">Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film</a>. The censored content was reinstated in English-language restorations in 2001. Many critics consider <i>Persona</i> one of the <a href="/facts/List_of_films_considered_the_best/pGV2gfUG">greatest films ever made</a>, and it was ranked the fifth-best in <i><a href="/facts/Sight_%26_Sound/LhevSGbx">Sight & Sound</a></i>'s 1972 poll and 17th in 2012. It also influenced many later directors, including <a href="/facts/Robert_Altman/z8muAk9r">Robert Altman</a> and <a href="/facts/David_Lynch/9T1gIYEg">David Lynch</a>. </p>