Black Swan (2010)

Directed by: Darren Aronofsky | 108 minutes | drama, thriller | Actors: Natalie Portman, Vincent Cassel, Mila Kunis, Winona Ryder, Ksenia Solo, Sebastian Stan, Barbara Hershey, Toby Hemmingway, Janet Montgomery, Christopher Gartin, Kristina Anapau, Marcia Jean Kurtz, Adriene Couvillion, Deborah Offner, Shaun O’Hagan

Darren Aronofsky generally doesn’t make films that are about the light side of life. His characters invariably seem to be heading for their downfall. Ballerina Nina (Natalie Portman), who ‘Black Swan’ revolves around, fits in well with this tradition. Being a wrestler was no fun as we could see in ‘The Wrestler’, but the ballet world is really hell. When Nina is allowed to dance the lead role in Swan Lake, she realizes that she will have to pay a price for this dream. She seems to really trust no one around her and loses herself as she tries to meet the high standards set by Artistic Director (Vincent Cassel) Thomas.

In 2008, Aronofsky made a film with ‘The Wrestler’ about a wrestler who has become so entrenched in his work that he cannot live without it, even if it physically kills him. ‘Black Swan’ has a lot in common with this film. Nina also lives for her work and she is so absorbed in her role in Swan Lake that she is risking her physical and mental health for it. In addition, in both films it is almost brutally portrayed how these people have to physically suffer for their profession. And ‘Black Swan’ also gives an insight into an environment that is normally inaccessible to the outside world: the mysterious world of classical ballet. In ‘Black Swan’ the story of Nina is intertwined with the story of Swan Lake, in which the battle of innocence against evil is central, the battle of the black swan against the white. In order to play the dual role in Swan Lake, the innocent Nina must come into contact with her dark side. This aspect is especially beautifully developed visually, so that the film is actually a ballet in itself, full of beautiful sets, with an enormous eye for detail. But despite the fact that the film is visually manageable, it remains a somewhat chilly style exercise by Aronofsky.

‘Black Swan’ is a drama film and a thriller at the same time, but doesn’t quite convince in both areas because of its cold character. You don’t fully empathize with the characters because the movie doesn’t give them enough space. Especially the supporting roles remain very flat, but the main character also stays at a distance. This is not because of the acting, because they are fine. It can be clearly seen that Portman went to great lengths to play this role. The supporting roles of Barbara Hershey as an obsessed mother, among others, are also played credibly. But because the film doesn’t take up enough space to develop characters, they never become people of flesh and blood, but they remain a bit flat characters.

Despite its somewhat distant approach, ‘Black Swan’ does manage to confuse the viewer and drag them into Nina’s make-believe world. Her slowly worsening delusions are portrayed so well that at times it is impossible to distinguish what is real and what is not. Because of this ‘Black Swan’ knows how to keep the attention and it is certainly an interesting film.