No small achievement, to carry a film with scarcely a single line of dialogue – but Ullmann, as the actress struck suddenly mute, brings it off with silent eloquence.

Isolated with only her nurse Alma (Bibi Andersson) for company, she gradually usurps the other woman’s personality, reducing her to incoherence.

Ullmann entered subtly and instinctively into Bergman’s world and he was delighted: “Liv has enormous faith in her own intuition.”

Greatest moment: The two women’s faces, and personalities, merge.

Also see: Maria (Cries And Whispers), Eva Rosenberg (Shame).