Cries and Whispers or Persona?

[Perversion]

Which should I watch first? I have the former on an old VHS tape I've had for over a decade, but have yet to watch. I purchased the latter on DVD when the Borders near me had 50% off all DVDs and CDs earlier this year.



Prediction: One post from Mora, maybe another from me, and the topic dies.

[John Mora]

Re: Cries and Whispers or Persona?

I have Persona at home from Netflix right now.

[Perversion]

Re: Cries and Whispers or Persona?

MAYBE WE CAN BOTH WATCH IT AND DISCUSS WHAT WE THINK OF IT IN THIS THREAD!


Wouldn't that be neato?

[John Mora]

Re: Cries and Whispers or Persona?

"no"

[Perversion]

Re: Cries and Whispers or Persona?

Yeah...you'll probably reserve your writings on it for your little grumpy thing.

[Kit Carruthers]

Re: Cries and Whispers or Persona?

Persona is amazing.

[Perversion]

Re: Cries and Whispers or Persona?

So did you watch Persona yet, Mora?

[Perversion]

Re: Cries and Whispers or Persona?

You were right, Mora. I'm pretty much at a loss as far as what to say.


I CAN say that I guarantee with 100% certainty that Satoshi Kon's seen this at least once.

[John Mora]

Re: Cries and Whispers or Persona?

I'm not sure I'd agree that there's tons of similarities besides there just being women with identity issues, but okay! I thought it was a pretty movie~

[Perversion]

Re: Cries and Whispers or Persona?

I dunno....that scene at the very end where Elizabet was in makeup again, but Alma was with her, sort of, and the house lights were on her, looking down...for some reason kinda really reminded me of Perfect Blue.


Other than that, it's weird. Not sure if I liked it or am semi-indifferent. Obviously, it's overly cinematic, to the point of actually calling attention to its techniques. Is that pretentious? I'd still need to watch it again.


I'm guessing, as for how I felt a bit during, and now reflecting after just having finished, I guess it draws attention to itself as a film throughout due to the voyeurism that that implies. I mean, that realistically was one of, if not the main throughpoint of the film. It was referenced a few times, and by drawing attention to its techniques (the extremely, extremely slow fadeout on Elizabet's face near the beginning was sorta uncomfortably voyeuristic), it kinda forces the audience to participate in its voyeurism. And after the voyeuristic orgy story (actually kinda arousing), when Alma goes to bed, and Elizabet kinda just hovers behind her, watching....



I dunno exactly what Bergman was trying to convey 100%, but the rampant voyeurism (well, plus, she's an actress...the ultimate voyeuristic (legitimate) profession) was a bit unsettling at times.


EDIT: The wiki entry that I just checked also confirms one of my other thoughts...I was getting a Tyler Durden vibe throughout as well, beginning even before the opening credits with the not-quite-subliminal shot of a penis, and continuing throughout.


Only other thing I kept thinking throughout was that I wish I'd seen this before I'd ever seen Sprockets on the old SNLs.

[John Mora]

Re: Cries and Whispers or Persona?

I dunno exactly what Bergman was trying to convey 100%

Ditto, I just enjoyed the clean print and beautiful photography.