How did Ingmar Bergman use fragmented storytelling in his films?

Ingmar Bergman’s use of fragmented storytelling was a hallmark of his highly personal cinematic style, which he employed to explore complex themes of human loneliness, vulnerability, and moral struggle. Rather than relying on traditional, linear narrative structures, Bergman progressively stripped away decorative elements to create abstract dramas that focused on the internal lives of his characters.12

His fragmented approach often involved:

• Psychological and Visual Organization: Instead of prioritizing a paraphrasable story, Bergman utilized an intuitive linking of images, dreams, and abstractions to examine human relationships and the search for identity.23
• Removal of Masks: His narratives frequently centered on the attempt to define personality by "removing masks" to see if a true self existed underneath, a process that often bypassed conventional narrative logic.2
• Non-Explanatory Structures: In films such as Persona (1967), Bergman explored themes like the merging of personalities without attempting to explain the mechanics of these events, challenging audiences to engage with the film on a deeper, non-narrative level.3

By moving beyond the "burden" of traditional storytelling, Bergman used film as a medium to express his own perceptions with the same artistic conviction as a novelist or composer.23