Being finally able to understand "Persona" on a deeper level might have been the only good reason to get old. I used to get overwhelmed by the long series of monologues and the incredibly slow pacing, but it seems that I finally lived enough to understand Alma's psyche and authentically feel for her existential despair. If you think about the title ("persona" refers to the "mask" that people wear in public to conceal their real personalities) and the main character's name ("Alma" means "soul" in Latin), it's not hard to figure out what Bergman wanted to say. However, it's something so hard to conceive for a teenager or a young adult.

It's definitely not a film for everyone, but it's one of the few classics that do not need extra stars just for their status. It's the best example of a truly timeless film, that still looks terrific and explores themes that are still contemporary. The minimalist, yet incredibly stylish and charming, visuals did not age a day. Not to mention that it has one of the most beautiful endearing openings in film history.