The Passion of Anna, Ingmar Bergman’s film of 1969, is not everyone’s favourite. Some like it a bit, most don’t like it all. The odd interludes with the actors talking about their roles feel experimental and out of place. Jarring even. And yet, having just seen it again after a long while, I must admit it’s growing on me. Especially after having heard some interesting information about it.

Liv Ullmann, who plays Anna, said in an interview that the English title is misleading. The film’s original title is En Passion (A Passion). No mention of Anna at all. And that piece of information may be the key to one’s liking the film better. It is NOT about Anna, but about the complete – both mental and in the end even literal – disintegration of a man.

Another interesting fact is that that same Liv Ullmann said that Ingmar Bergman basically spent his days filming his own life. His oeuvre reads like an autobiography. This particular film was written and shot while Ingmar Bergman’s relationship with Liv Ullmann was falling apart. Is the main character – Andreas Winkelman – really just another version of Ingmar himself? The film does seem to capture the strangling emotions of a relational breakdown perfectly.

It’s funny how those two small pieces of information will make one look at this film in a different light. So do me a favour, and try and watch it again. I’m hopeful you’ll be duly impressed with its emotional depth and Bergman’s talent. May those final shots of the film stay with you for a long, long time, because they’re beautiful!

Adrian