Black Swan

Black Swan follows the story of Nina (Portman), a ballerina in a New York City ballet company whose life, like all those in her profession, is completely consumed with dance. She lives with her retired ballerina mother Erica (Barbara Hershey) who zealously supports her daughter’s professional ambition. When artistic director Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel) decides to replace prima ballerina Beth MacIntyre (Winona Ryder) for the opening production of their new season, Swan Lake, Nina is his first choice. But Nina has competition: a new dancer, Lily (Kunis), who impresses Leroy as well. Swan Lake requires a dancer who can play both the White Swan with innocence and grace, and the Black Swan, who represents guile and sensuality. Nina fits the White Swan role perfectly but Lily is the personification of the Black Swan. As the two young dancers expand their rivalry into a twisted friendship, Nina begins to get more in touch with her dark side with a recklessness that threatens to destroy her.

Dove Review

The story is basically about Nina (Natalie Portman), a character who desires perfection in her dream to be the ultimate ballerina. She desires it so much that this innocent woman is willing to work at exploring her sexuality and being seduced by her darker side, hence the title “Black Swan”. As she begins to explore her sexuality a few explicit scenes in the film are a result of this plot twist. Initially Lily is the character who seems to symbolize the dark side but Nina gives in to the artistic director’s suggestion which leads her down a dark path which could result in the loss of her life.

The film features the theme of being focused on your goal but unfortunately, this is an un-doing for Nina and becomes an obsession. Due to the sexual scenes and language in the film, not to mention the taking of pills which seem to be behind hallucinations, we cannot award our Dove Seal to this film.

Dove Rating Details

Faith

None

Integrity

A character picks off skin near the fingernails and viciously scratches her own back; a suicide and a shard of glass is used; a scene of a woman killing another by stabbing her with sharp piece of glass; slamming of a door on a character's hand.

Sex

Female masturbation is obviously going on in a scene; the F word is used sexually; a couple of scenes in which women are groped; suggestive dancing; a scene of woman giving other woman oral sex and not much is left for the imagination; sexual comments.

Language

GD-1; G/OMG-3; J-3; F-12; S-2; A-1; D-2; Slang for male genitalia-3; Slang for female genitalia-3

Violence

Drugs

Some drinking scenes and the pill popping of an unknown pill; hallucinations; champagne; the smoking of a cigarette.

Nudity

Female side nudity; woman in panties and covering her breasts; shirtless man.

Other

Vomiting seen in a few scenes; a mother lives vicariously through her daughter.

More Information

Film Information

Genre

Drama

Runtime

108

Rating

N/A

Reviewer

Edwin L. Carpenter

Actors

Barbara Hershey, Mila Kunis, Natalie Portman, Vincent Cassel, Winona Ryder

Writers

Mark Heyman &

Directors

Darren Aronofsky

Producers

Scott Franklin

Studios

Fox Searchlight Pictures