Black Swan

Black Swan,

I honestly didn't know what to expect with this film, the title itself is a little alluring and mysterious!

The film is a breathtaking journey of a Ballerina preparing to take on the role of the Swan Queen in a production of Swan Lake at a ballet company in New York. The role seems a very difficult one as the performer has to be the White Swan (pure and innocent) and the Black Swan (dark and sensual) which may not be suitable for many Ballerinas to take on the pure and also the sinful.

There are two main competitors for the role of Swan Queen, Nina (Natalie Portman) and Lily (Mila Kunis). Nina is perfect for the role of White Swan with her being nun like in her persona, perfect poise and presence. Lily is a hell-raising, party loving, nymphomaniac who isn't a perfect dancer but has the freedom within to be a perfect Black Swan.

The director of the production Thomas {pronounced To-mas} (Vincent Cassel) selects Veronica (Ksenia Solo) to be the Swan Queen (much to Nina's heart-break), Nina then goes to Thomas to try to change his mind. Thomas explains why she is not cast and shows her the door, only then to close it front of her then forcefully kiss her passionately. Nina bites his lip then pulls away. Embarrassed she leaves not having the role and feeling humiliated in trying to change the directors mind.

The next day apprehension fills the corridors of the theatre whilst potential performers await casting results, Nina though unsuitable is cast as Swan Queen after invigorating Thomas with the bite of his lip! As he can see an inner darkness in the initially pure Nina.

Nina then takes on the role and in her difficulty in portraying the Black Swan becomes more and more like the character of ying and yang together. Each side to her personality become more complex and entwined as the story goes on and leads to some visions of self harm and sexual promiscuousness. Nina at first seems frigid is encouraged to be more of a sexual performer by Thomas and to let herself go and become "lost" in her dancing. Thomas gets what he wants.

Nina's visions eventually become very strong and the character struggles to see the true reality and becomes more detached as the role progresses. This eventually leads to a kind of intervention by her until now all controlling and cold hearted mother Erica (Barbara Hershey) to try and bring her back to reality, This does not work as Nina only thinks her mother is against her as she has been over-bearing and controlling of her Ballet career until this point. Whilst this intervention has been taking place Nina is stripped of time and is nearly late for the opening nights performance.

Upon breaking free from her mothers grasp, Nina runs to the Ballet company to prepare only to find Lily is dressed as the Swan Queen getting ready to take her place which upsets and angers her. After a confrontation with Thomas she gets ready.

Nerves are coursing through her as she has to give the ultimate performance. The White Swan is performed well apart from a male lead dropping her onto the stage. Upon returning to her dressing room she finds Lily dressed as the Black Swan to take her place, Nina believing that the mishap on stage has caused her to be removed. Nina is furious and a scuffle takes place in which Nina pushes Lily into a mirror, takes one of the broken pieces and stabs Lily. Shaken from murdering her understudy she drags the body of Lily into the bathroom and then prepares for her Black Swan performance.

The Black Swan comes onto stage and gives the performance of her life and truly loses herself in the part, the audience raise rapturous applause, Nina goes to the side of the stage and kisses Thomas passionately to show how she has developed as a sensual performer.

Nina then returns again to her dressing room to prepare for the final chapter of the evening. There is then a knock on her door, Lily is outside and wants to apologise for the way she has acted towards her, Nina then realises that the "murder" of Lily was a vision but the mirror is still broken. Nina had acted out her anger on herself and realises she has a wound and removes the piece of broken mirror from her body.

During the last act, Nina performs sensationally well and receives yet more applause and cheer from the audience and fellow performers. Only for Thomas to see that she is seriously wounded, Nina can only say that she thought her performance was perfect then the screen goes white and the credits roll.

This is only feels like a snapshot of the immense detail in this film, which is not hard to follow although, this film is not for the faint hearted. There was not a moment that I lost interest and felt captivated by this intense and powerful journey all the way to the end.

If I were you I would put this on the list of films you must, must see, truly a great performance by all the cast, especially Natalie Portman.

5 STARS.