Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		5.0

Persona Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov February 27, 2014

Ingmar Bergman's "Persona" (1966) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the disc include an original English-language trailer for the film; Dheeraj Akolkar's documentary film "Liv & Ingmar" (2012); new video interviews with actress Liv Ullmann and writer/director Paul Schrader; archival on-set footage with an audio commentary by film scholar Birgitta Steene; archival video interview with the legendary Swedish director; new visual essay by scholar Peter Cowie; and more. The release also arrives with an illustrated booklet featuring an essay by film scholar Thomas Elsaesser, an excerpted 1969 interview with Ingmar Bergman, and excerpted 1977 conversation with Bibi Andersson. In Swedish, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

"Can't you just say one word?"

The film opens up with an unusually long prologue whose purpose is to test the viewer’s mind – a series of images pop up on the screen and then quickly disappear. The mind immediately begins speculating, making it awfully difficult for the viewer to decide whether the images were random or carefully selected.

After the prologue the images begin to make sense. A voice coming from behind the camera informs a young and very beautiful nurse (Bibi Andersson, Wild Strawberries, The Girls) that she has been hired to take care of an actress (Liv Ullmann, Autumn Sonata, Hour of the Wolf) who has suddenly gone mute. The viewer sees the actress before the nurse does, in a flashback. She is on the stage, wearing makeup and looking confused. The owner of the voice is then revealed while the actress and her condition are carefully described to the nurse.

In the next episode the nurse visits the actress in her hospital room. Now the viewer learns that the nurse is in her twenties and is engaged. While she introduces herself, the actress remains indifferent. After the visit the nurse reveals her frustration and confesses that she is unsure if she is the right person to take care of the actress. Soon after, however, the two are sent to a small cottage somewhere in the Swedish countryside where the actress is expected to recover.

At this point most viewers feel fairly confident that Ingmar Bergman’s Persona will focus on the actress’ recovery. Only a select few would still consider the strange prologue and think about its purpose.

What happens next can best be described as a fascinating intellectual mind game. There are multiple ways of deconstructing it, but not right and wrong ones. What is important here is to be aware that the game is played in and outside of the film. In the film the two women play the game as they warm up to each other and then become frustrated with their relationship. In a variety of different ways Bergman also plays with the viewer’s mind, making it awfully difficult for him to effectively separate dreams from reality.

The film’s visual style is extraordinary. The camera spends a great deal of time carefully observing the faces of the two women as if to prove to the viewer that they are masks that can be easily exchanged. Eventually, different feelings and emotions begin to alter them and the film does precisely that – it effectively proves that human beings are perpetually wearing masks while playing roles they have chosen or have been forced to accept.

The acting is equally impressive. Andersson’s excellent monologues direct the story, but leave plenty of room for healthy speculations. Ullmann utters only a few words, but her face is like an open book. When the camera observes the two women from afar, their body language is also terrific.

***

Also included on this upcoming Blu-ray release is Liv & Ingmar (2012), a new documentary film directed by Dheeraj Akolkar. In it Ullmann recalls her beautiful but frequently difficult relationship with the legendary Swedish director and their collaborations on a number of different films, and discusses her work with Andersson during the shooting of Persona in the Swedish countryside. Additionally, the film uses passages from Ullmann’s autobiography Changing, excerpts from Bergman’s personal letters to Ullmann, and a passage from the Swedish director’s autobiography Lanterna Magica.

Persona Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.37:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Ingmar Bergman's Persona arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.

The following text appears inside the booklet provided with this Blu-ray release:

"This new digital transfer was created in 2K resolution on an ARRISCAN film scanner from the 35mm original camera negative at Chimney Pot in Stockholm. The film was also restored at Chimney Pot. The original monaural soundtrack was remastered at 24-bit from the 17.5mm magnetic track. Clicks, thumps, hiss, and hum were manually removed using Pro Tools HD. Crackle was attenuated using AudioCube's integrated workstation.

Transfer supervisor: Peter Bengtsson; Mats Forsberg/Chimney Pot, Stockholm.
Colorist: Mats Holmgren/Chimney Pot, Stockholm."

Digitally restored in 2011 by Svensk Filmindustri, Persona looks very beautiful in high-definition. Indeed, the important close-ups repeatedly impress with outstanding depth. At times definition is so dramatically improved that one can literally see pores and facial hair that are simply missing on the R1 DVD release of the film.The panoramic shots also boast outstanding fluidity (see screencapture #5). Contrast and sharpness levels remain consistent throughout the entire film. The blacks and whites are exceptionally well balanced and there is a tremendous range of nuanced grays (see screencapture #16). Viewers with large screens or projectors will be especially pleased with these substantial improvements since now it is incredibly easy to appreciate the unique use of light and shadow and Sven Nykvist's careful framing. Furthermore, there are absolutely no traces of problematic degraining corrections. Also, compromising sharpening adjustments have not been applied. Dirt, noise, debris, and stains have been removed as best as possible. (Only in the very beginning of the film, during the short sequence where Alma enters the room and introduces herself, I noticed some extremely light grain pulsations, but the effect never becomes distracting). Finally, there are no serious stability issues to report in this review. All in all, this is yet another very strong restoration of a classic Bergman film that should make its fans enormously happy. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free PS3 or SA in order to access its content).

Persona Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: Swedish LPCM 1.0. For the record, Criterion have provided optional English subtitles for the main feature.

The overall dynamic intensity is limited, but depth and especially clarity are terrific. It is also easy to tell that various important stabilization adjustments have been performed because the long monologues remain well rounded throughout the entire film. There are no pops, cracks, problematic background hiss, or audio distortions to report in this review. The English translation is excellent.

Persona Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - original English-language trailer for Ingmar Bergman's Persona. Not subtitled. (3 min, 1080p).

• Persona's Prologue: A Poem in Images - new visual essay by Ingmar Bergman scholar Peter Cowie. The essay was produced exclusively for Criterion in 2013. In English, not subtitled. (21 min, 1080p).

• Interviews - two archival and two brand new interviews.
  
  1. Bibi Andersson, Ingmar Bergman, and Liv Ullmann - in this excerpt from an interview originally recorded for Swedish television in 1966, the legendary Swedish director and the two stars of Persona share their interpretations of the film. (The Swedish director notes that Persona is not a film that should be understood, but rather experienced emotionally). In Swedish, with optional English subtitles. (20 min, 1080p).
  
  2. Ingmar Bergman - in this excerpt from an interview recorded for Canadian television in 1970, the director of Persona explains how the idea for the film came to him. Ingmar Bergman also discusses the notion of existing and its ability to depress human beings. In English, not subtitled. (9 min, 1080p).
  
  3. Liv Ullmann - in this new video interview, the great Norwegian actress discusses her contribution to Persona and the film's unique themes, and explains how the film changed her life. Included with the interview are various archival clips from the shooting of Persona. The interview was conducted exclusively for Criterion in 2013. In English, not subtitled. (17 min, 1080p).
  
  4. Paul Schrader - in this new video interview, writer/director Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver, American Gigolo), an admirer of the Swedish director's work, discusses Persona and its place in the annals of film history. The interview was conducted exclusively for Criterion in 2013. In English, not subtitled. (11 min, 1080p).

• On-set Footage - silent black-and-white footage shot during the production of Persona in the Swedish countryside. The footage is presented with an audio commentary by Ingmar Bergman scholar Birgitta Steene. In English, not subtitled. (19 min, 1080p).

• Liv & Ingmar - Dheeraj Akolkar's 2012 documentary film is presented in 1080p and with an English Dolby Digital 5.1 track, with optional English subtitles (85 min). Screencaptures from the film are included with the review. For additional information on the film, please see the main review.
  
  1. Introduction
  2. Love
  3. Loneliness
  4. Rage
  5. Pain
  6. Longing
  7. Friendship
  8. Peace

• Booklet - an illustrated booklet featuring an essay by film scholar Thomas Elsaesser, an excerpted 1969 interview with Ingmar Bergman, and excerpted 1977 conversation with Bibi Andersson.

Persona Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It is only February, but I can tell with absolute certainty that Criterion's upcoming Blu-ray release of Ingmar Bergman's Persona will appear on my Top 10 list at the end of year. Recently restored by Svensk Filmindustri, this legendary film unquestionably looks the best it ever has. In addition to a number of exclusive new supplemental features, Criterion have also included Dheeraj Akolkar's excellent new documentary film Liv & Ingmar. Buy with confidence, folks. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.