THE SCHOOL OF PERSONA: MAY DECEMBER

I couldn’t not think of Persona when I first read Samy’s script, in the clear way that it’s such a unique example of a film that pairs these two women and where likenesses are being exchanged, or that one character is learning about the likeness of the other and trying to incorporate her into her process as an actor - Todd Haynes, Letterboxd

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Persona / May December

I caught a handful of Persona-esque shots in Todd Haynes May December only to discover afterwards that it was intentional (click here to learn about Haynes' influences on his latest film). Normally, a filmmaker being influenced by one of Bergman's most recognizable films seems like low-hanging fruit but this is the first time Haynes has been so open about Bergman's influence (he usually draws from the likes of Chantal Akerman, Douglas Sirk, etc).

Below are all of the worthwhile references/similarities I caught (some super obvious and others not so obvious).

And in Persona, Liv Ullmann plays an actress who’s been stricken with stage fright and has stopped speaking. Bibi Andersson is a nurse and a caretaker, called in to look after her - Todd Haynes, Letterboxd

Persona / May December

That shot figures into the film Persona, but it’s not necessarily the shot you think of when we all think of Persona. The ultimate shot is where these two are almost playing as if they’re in a mirror, and their gaze turns to the lens of the camera. It’s like a dream - Todd Haynes, Letterboxd

Persona / May December

Persona did influence that scene directly - Todd Haynes, Letterboxd

Persona / May December

Persona / May December

Persona / May December

Persona / May December

Persona / May December

Persona / May December

Persona / May December

THE SCHOOL OF TARKOVSKY PART 24: MOVING IMAGERY

We took a little break from this but we're back looking at some of the visual similarities between Tarkovsky and filmmakers ranging from Claire Denis to Shane Carruth.

Enjoy

Nostalghia / The Intruder 

Andrei Rublev / Hana-Bi

The Mirror / Annihilation

The Mirror / Midsommar 

The Mirror / Midsommar

Sacrifices / Midsommar

The Mirror / The Neverending Story

Stalker / Archipelago

Ivan's Childhood / Pierrot Le Fou

Solaris / Upstream Color

The Sacrifice / Tree Of Life

Stalker  / Morvern Callar

Solaris /
Safe

Solaris / Taste Of Cement

Solaris / Happy Together

THE SCHOOL OF CHANTAL AKERMAN PART 7: MOVING IMAGERY

In this edition of The School Of Chantal Akerman (probably the last one I’ll be doing for a while) I draw comparisons to some strange & unexpected works like Spike Lee’s School Daze & Shane Carruth’s Upstream Color, alongside some more reasonable/believable filmmakers to draw influence from her work like Olivier Assayas & Bertrand Bonello.

Some of these may be a reach (with the exception of Safe which isn’t up for debate), but the films on the right still give me a serious subconscious Chantal Akerman vibe.


Enjoy...

La Chmbre / Safe

Jeanne Dielman... / Safe

Hotel Monterey / Interiors

Les Rendezvous / Upstream Color

Les Rendezvous D'Anna / Nostalghia

Hotel Monterey / Irma Vep

Les Rendezvous / Gradiva

In The Mirror / Four Nights Of A Dreamer

The Golden 80's / School Daze

Jeanne Dielman /
The House Of Tolerance 

THE SCHOOL OF CHANTAL AKERMAN PART 6: MOVING IMAGERY

On this latest entry, we take a look at a particular scene from one of Akerman's most well known films and the (possible) influence it may have had on LGBTQ cinema (along with a few other bonus comparisons).

Enjoy...

Also - make sure to check out:
PART ONE
PART TWO
PART THREE
PART FOUR
PART FIVE

Je Tu Il Elle / Mulholland Drive

Je Tu Il Elle / Blue Is The Warmest Color

Je Tu Ill Elle / Carol

Je Tu Il Elle / The Handmaiden

Je Tu Il Elle / High Art

Jeanne Dielman... /
Blue Is The Warmest Color

Jeanne Dielman... /
Manhunter

Je Tu Il Elle / Attenberg

Toute Une Nuit / Down By Law

Toute Une Nuit / No Fear No Die / US Go Home / Nenette & Boni / 35 Rhums

Family Business / Henry Fool

Jeanne Dielman... / Ida

THE SCHOOL OF PERSONA PART 3

Below are a few more obvious (and not-so obvious) references to some of my all-time favorite moving images courtesy of Ingmar Bergman's Persona (along with a few quotes from the possibly influenced directors themselves).

Enjoy...


I’m sure Ingmar Bergman did not influence Cheryl Dunye's Watermelon Woman (I did tag her in this post on twitter so perhaps she can chime in. I mean - movie references and video stores do play a big part in her film). But the visual similarities (along with Bergman's exploration of sexuality) is quite the coincidence.

Persona / The Watermelon Woman

BFI: What filmmakers have influenced you in making your Alien films?

Ridley Scott: Mostly Kubrick, but then along the way you’ve gotta take on board [David] Lean, you’ve gotta take on board [Akira] Kurosawa and [Ingmar] Bergman.

Persona / Bladerunner

Person / Bladerunner

Persona / Freeze Frame

Persona / Always Shine

Persona / Always Shine

Nicolas Winding Refn is on record saying he's never seen Persona but this is a pretty interesting comparison nonetheless (although I find it hard to believe a self-proclaimed cinephile like Refn has never seen Persona)

Persona / Fear x

If I can’t watch a film like Persona and realize, Oh, Ingmar Bergman is an originator and I’m a synthesist, then I don’t know what I’m doing. Part of knowing what you’re doing is understanding, Okay, I can’t drive the lane. But I can shoot from the outside. - Steven Soderbergh

Persona / Sex, Lies & Videotape

Persona / Sex, Lies & Videotape

I wrote a lot of fan letters to Bergman... - Lars Von Trier

Persona / The Orchid Gardener

Person / Mullholand Drive / Blue Is The Warmest Color / Carol