Black Swan

Synopsis: A ballet dancer wins the lead in "Swan Lake" and is perfect for the role of the delicate White Swan - Princess Odette - but slowly loses her mind as she becomes more and more like Odile, the Black Swan.

Thoughts

Okay so for a long time I debated about whether I should finally sit down and watch this film; I'd heard good things, bad things, and of course it was winning awards aplenty. I like to think I'm not a naive person, but I foolishly led myself to believe that this would be a film solely based on ballet, and therefore I wouldn't enjoy it at all.

I can safely say now that I was wrong. The principle plot within the film is one in which we say a young girl, Nina (Natalie Portman) struggle for her breakthrough into the ballet limelight; something she's worked for, aiming for perfection all her life.

But in this case, perfect is too much. As she fights to win the lead part in Swan Lake, she struggles to let herself go; to let herself be at one with the music. She must play the parts of both the White Swan and the Black; the former she can do gracefully, wonderfully, flawlessly. However, Nina doesn't have the eccentricity or flair needed to become the Black Swan, and she goes home in tears at losing her chance; dejected, defeated and alone.

She doesn't give up, however; the next day she storms into the director's offers and asks for the place. Thomas looks at her, telling her she doesn't have the edge needed to be who he needs. He leans in to try kiss her and receives a bite to the lip in response. This makes him see that Nina has potential, casting her in the lead role and from then on transforming her life entirely.

Mystery and intrigue leave the audience captivated for the rest of the film, as we begin to see Nina consumed by the stress of her role. She becomes confused, believing Lily (Mila Kunis) her under-study, is trying to steal her role away from her. Her mind becomes a mess of incoherent thoughts, dark and disturbing, intense, leaving the audience entranced by what they are seeing on screen.

This film is simply beautifully crafted, and with such careful precision. As the audience becomes drawn in by Nina's sudden loss on reality, the film moves towards a tremendous climax; one which epitomises the entire film's message and direction. If you are interested in films which capture you and never let you go until their very conclusion; films that can be racy and mysterious, captivating yet dark and disturbing, then Black Swan is for you.

5/5.