The Black Swan

RELEASE DATE: 20th January 2011

   - Driven to the point of destruction, this ballerina won't let anything get in the way of the 'perfect' performance, including herself.

Black Swan is a thriller starring Natalie Portman, French actor Vincent Cassel (The Apartment) and Mila Kunis (best known for her character in 'That 70's Show'). Supporting actors are Barbara Hershey and Winona Ryder who plays an ageing ballerina (receiving much credit for no more than a fleeting role).

Director Darren Aronofsky appears to be exploring similar themes in this film to that of his most recent success, 'The Wrestler'. In both films the lead characters are self-destructive and obsessed with their careers and at the end of each film we are left wondering if either character survives the brutal treatment they inflict upon themselves.

The story of 'Black Swan' begins and ends as a nightmare. Natalie Portman plays 'Nina Sayers', a young hard-working and conscientious ballerina, desperate to win the lead in 'Swan Lake'. Mila Kunis's character 'Lily' contrasts greatly with that of Nina. Lily has a carefree attitude towards Ballet and Life but poses a real threat to Nina's ambition. Vincent Cassel's character Thomas is the director of the Ballet Company and is unconvinced that Nina is able to play both parts of the lead role in Swan Lake. Nina is a natural for the role of Princess Odette, The White Swan, innocent and virtuous but the role of the Black Swan, Odile, is more of a challenge. It requires Nina to connect with her dark and sensual side, something that comes more naturally to Lily and not unrecognised by the director. Eventually winning the lead, Nina is constantly taunted by the director who undermines her ability to play the Black Swan in an effort to encourage her performance. This backfires enormously and contributes to the deterioration of Nina's mind. 

Barbara Hershey is good in her supporting role of a former ballerina and over protective mother of Nina. She is the first to highlights to the audience the fragility of Nina, as we watch her nurture and care for her daughter whilst actively encouraging Nina's innocence. As the story unfolds we witness the punishing routine Nina put's herself through to reach perfection and we see further signs that her mind is slowly deteriorating. Vision's and hallucinations begin to take over Nina's reality in the race to embody the character of the 'Black Swan'.