What happens when an actor's role in a film is that of an actor that suddenly because self-aware of their acting? She stops acting.
Elisabeth Vogler, a renowned stage actress, suddenly falls silent during a performance. Frustrating doctors by definitely not being insane, she is diagnosed with a psychosomatic illness, and sent to a secluded beach house to recuperate. She is accompanied by Anna, a young nurse who becomes her caretaker. As the two women spend time together, a strange and intense bond develops, leading to a psychological and emotional interplay that challenges their individual identities.
The relationship between Elisabeth and Anna is further a metaphor for the filmmaker and the audience. Elisabeth represents the enigmatic and inaccessible artist, while Anna represents the curious and receptive spectator. The film is further very much aware of its nature as a film. It does not ask for suspension of disbelief, rather it insists on being taken literally - as a film. "Persona" breaks the fourth wall, directly addressing the audience or acknowledging the artificiality of the cinematic experience. In the film's final brief shot of Elisabeth we can actually see the camera. This all serves to emphasize the constructed nature of reality and the illusion of the screen - literally through a broken film at the opening.
It's our own fault. "Persona" insists the audience become participants in the cinematic experience, rather than passive consumers. And we're all bozos on this bus.
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