Ben’s review published on Letterboxd:
Persona is visually stunning and narratively challenging. I do not think there could be an incorrect interpretation of this film. Any person who views this film could come up with a different answer on what it all means and what it is trying to say. Personally speaking, the struggle to understand one's own identity and actions seems to be at the forefront. Who am I to say though?
I must admit, for as beautiful and interesting as the visuals are, I did not find myself caring about what was going on so much. I am happy for a film to challenge me, but I have to be interested in the challenge. I can relate to a Bergman film like The Seventh Seal much more. I felt like it posed more interesting questions and felt much more grounded in a universal struggle.
I wish I loved this movie more. The performances were great. The score was eerie and effective. From a technical and performance perspective, I literally cannot complain about a single thing. I just didn't care for what was being presented.
I read that this film was a big inspiration for David Lynch, and I have got to say, I cannot get into a lot of his filmography either. I find films like this (and Lynch's) to be interesting, but not the most enjoyable. I really enjoy films that manage to blow my mind in some exciting fashion, and I especially enjoy films that can resonate with me on some emotional level. Although Persona is undoubtedly important and influential, it did neither of those things for me.