A sensitive exploration in the tragic irony of a psychiatrist suffering with mental illness. Dr Jenny Isaksson (Liv Ullmann) is a psychiatrist married to another psychiatrist; both are successful in their jobs but slowly, inexorably, she succumbs to a breakdown. Face to Face is marked by Liv Ullmann’s raw and harrowing performance, which earned her widespread acclaim, including an Academy Award nomination. Bergman’s masterful use of intimate close-ups and dreamlike sequences creates a deeply personal and unsettling cinematic experience, highlighting his enduring preoccupation with the human condition and the complexities of the mind.

Notes by David O’Mahony.

This film screens as part of BETWEEN HEAVEN AND HELL: THE FILMS OF INGMAR BERGMAN.

See the full collection of films on IFI@Home, launching February 1st.