Black Swan

By: Melvin Fortin, Sadi Khajavi, Vicky Labrecque and Jessica Ramos

Introduction • Directed by Darren Aronofsky. • Main character Nina (Natalie

Portman) plays as the leading ballet dancer.

• Co-star Lily (Mila Kunis) plays Ninas competitor.

• Released in Canada on September 13 2010 at the Toronto National Film festival.

• Had won several awards and created enormous amounts of discussion.

Introduction

• Black Swan reflects issues that many face in their everyday lives:

• A controlling mother • experiencing jealousy• Competition• fear and much more 

•  Topics we will touch up on: • the psychological factors of the

ballet dancer  • the dark theme

Summary • Nina Sayers is a professional ballet dancer who dances for a

prestigious dance company in New York. • Her mother, Erica, used to be a ballet dancer as well. She constantly

pressures Nina when it comes to ballet.• The dance company Nina works for plans to do a “raw, visceral”

production of Swan Lake, to be directed by the “brilliant” Thomas Leroy. • Nina, along with a handful of other dancers, are chosen by Thomas to

compete for the title role of Swan Queen. • Nina seems to be the fore-runner to be the Swan Queen, although

serious doubts whether she will be able to handle the role of the Black Swan.

• Ultimately given the role of Swan Queen. While Lily, another dancer vying for the title role, goes on to be Nina’s understudy. At the same time, Lily was given the role of Black Swan, for fear of Nina not being able to handle the role.

• Nina’s hallucinations and schizophrenic episodes begin to worsen, heightening her anxiety. This coupled with her bulimia, self-harming tendencies, and pressure from her mother all coalesce into her eventually losing her sanity and grip on reality.

Transition from White Swan to Black Swan

• Nina was portrayed as innocent and fragile being perfect for the role of the white swan.

• Later she portrays the characteristic of the black swan by being sensual and mischievous.

• During this development she started to: – drink alcohol and experiment with drugs– conducted in sexual activities she had

never done before – rebel against her overbearing mother.

Films Content

• Some scenes that were demonstrated had caused: – disbelief and confusion amongst

some of the viewers and;– discussion amongst groups about:

• the sexual and dark content involved

• the scenes that caused some audiences questioning whether it was a figment of Nina’s imagination.

Scene One

• Nina had a dispute with Lily in her change room.

• Became violent causing Nina to stab Lily.

• Later shown that Nina had stabbed her self not Lily.

• This lead to the death scene at the end of the play and the film.

• Death symbolises their freedom from the curse that had haunted them, finally allowing them to be perfect.

Scene Two

• Nina had gone out to a party with Lily leading her to drink and consume a form of drug.

• Lily had initiated sexual advances towards Nina

• Next morning Nina was convinced the actions from the previous night had occurred

• Lily had denied it all making the audience wonder who was telling the truth.

Psychological Factors

• Nina experiences many personal conflicts.

• The audience could easily recognize the current issues in today's world demonstrated in the film.

• Two of these conflicts are: • anorexia • schizophrenia

Eating Disorder

• Anorexia:

Affects preteens, teens and mostly young women.

• Nina demonstrates an eating disorder problem, shown as a skinny girl who barely eats and makes herself throw up.

Schizophrenia • Over 280,000 people are affected in Canada by

Schizophrenia

• Nina demonstrates this through her double personality of the “Black Swan”, the one that she is struggling to be in her ballet play.

Conclusion• This film is considered 'popular literature' because it deals with

themes that almost all people have experienced• The main plot of the film deals with a seemingly 'perfect'

protagonist and her gradual slip into madness, and fall from grace

• Two of the main afflicting disorders that the protagonist suffers from are anorexia/bulimia, and 'schizophrenia

• These topic, as addressed through the personal suffering of the protagonist, bring things into perspective for the viewer as they are made aware of these modern issues

• Sexuality plays an integral part of the film, and in how the main characters interact and behave toward each other.

• Keeping up with the ‘pure’ image of the White Swan, Nina’s modesty and demureness when dealing with issues of her sexuality tie into her intimate resemblance of the role.

• Nina deviates from her naïve nature eventually when she becomes exposed to Lily’s lifestyle. She becomes ‘tainted’.

Black Swan Trialer• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jaI1XOB-bs

Anorexia:• http://www.articlesbase.com/answers/how-many-

people-have-eating-disorders-in-canada-40237

Schizophrenia:• http://www.schizophrenia.com/szfacts.htm