Search - Persona on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Not For Children Movie Release: 1966 DVD Release: 02/10/2004 Format: DVD - Black and White - Closed Captioned Audio Tracks: English, Swedish Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 23 mins Studio: MGM Members Wishing: 13 Genres: Drama, Psychological Drama

Persona is difficult to characterize in simple terms, but it may be helpful to describe this complex film as being an exploration of identity that combines elements of drama, visual poetry, and modern psychology. The central story revolves around a young nurse named Alma (Bibi Andersson) and her patient, a well-known actress named Elisabet Vogler (Liv Ullmann). Elisabet has stopped speaking, and the attending psychiatrist treats the actress by sending her to an isolated seaside cottage under Alma's care. There the nurse, who must do all the talking for both women, becomes a little enamored of the actress. One evening Alma tells Elisabet about some exhilarating sexual experiences she once had and their unpleasant aftermath. Soon after sharing this confidence, the nurse reads a letter Elisabet has written and is shocked to learn that the actress thinks of her as an amusing study. The relationship between the women becomes tense, and they wound each other. Then Alma has a long dream in which her identity merges with that of Elisabet, but when the nurse awakes, both women have apparently come to at least temporary terms with their psychological problems. ~ All Movie Guide

Bibi Andersson - Nurse Alma
Liv Ullmann - Actress Elisabeth Vogler
Margareta Krook - doctor
Gunnar Björnstrand - Mr. Vogler
Jörgen Lindström - Elisabet's Young Son

Persona is widely considered to be among the very finest films directed by Ingmar Bergman. This special edition DVD release of the film from MGM/UA offers a first-rate transfer that showcases all the nuances in Sven Nykvist's cinematography. The film is presented in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.33:1. Swedish and English soundtracks are rendered in Dolby Digital English. English, French, and Spanish subtitles are accessible. Supplemental materials include a commentary track recorded by Marc Gervais. Although Gervais has written a book about Bergman, he offers very little background on the artist. Instead he offers numerous possible readings of the film without taking a stand on any of them. Interviews with the two lead actresses, a still photo gallery, and the original theatrical trailer round out this disc, which is available as a single disc and as part of a box set that contains new versions of other Bergman films. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide