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Black Swan (2010)

Black Swan (2010)



A twisted profile by director Darren Aronofsky of a woman willing to do anything in pursuit of perfection.


Laura’s Rating: 3/5 Stars


Plot: Timid perfectionist Nina is a ballerina with the New York ballet company. She faces constant pressure from the intimidating and attractive ballet director, as well as her overbearing mother. When the coveted prima ballerina spot opens up for a production of Swan Lake, innocent Nina, the embodiment of the White Swan role, must attempt to connect with her dark side in order to also be able to portray the Black Swan. New rival ballerina Lily could be Nina’s key to letting go or to unlocking her dark side. 


Analysis: A ballerina herself before having her daughter, Nina’s mother has caused her to be repressed emotionally and sexually, treating her like a child incapable of independence. This is frustrating to watch, but it is also the perfect context for the story. Nina is so incredibly restrained, even when she is upset. Her tears and frustration fight to get out but she can never openly weep or express her emotions. As the pressure mounts, Nina struggles to maintain her sanity. 


The themes of innocence and losing control were interesting. Nina is almost always seen wearing pink and white, projecting a sense of innocence and purity. Only in scenes when she is not in total control does she wear black. There are many interesting visual effects, especially as Nina begins to have frightening visions. I didn’t love the surreal nature of such scenes, but admittedly, I’m not sure exactly how I’d portray them differently.


The film is extremely character focused, with only a small cast that acts as the focus of the film. I think this reflects the small social circles that perfectionist performers might tend to have due to constraints on the time and bandwidth they have to spend with others. For example, the addition of Lily to Nina’s small circle is a disruptive force, whether you view it as a positive or negative one.


I think I liked the concepts behind this movie more than the actual execution. I had heard a lot of great reviews for years, so my expectations were high. Yes, it is a dark and twisty thriller, but maybe not in the way I wanted or expected. At its core, Black Swan is about the sacrifices made in pursuit of perfection.

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