Thomas: "The only person standing in your way is you"

Rating: Null/10 (31 July 2011)

Mother uses her daughter Nina for the success she never could taste herself: the capital P for Primadonna. Her serving mirror is her baby girl in the pink room, together with her objects from childhood. BUT: Ninas revolts with her acts of self harming injury (wikipedia gives various reasons, as example the "troubled parental or partner relationships". But also an act of self healing "to regain control and autonomy over their life". Revolts at work, helped by her absent fathers replacement, the artistic director of the NYC ballet company. Autumns new production is Swan Lake. "Swan Lake", admits Thomas, "done to death, I know. But not like this. Stripping it down, make it visceral and real. A new production needs a new Swan Queen. A fresh face to present to the world. But which of you can embody both swans? The white and the black?" He tells the ancient story of Siegfried, Odette, von Rothbart and his daughter Odile : "... Virginal girl, pure and sweet; trapped in the body of a swan. She desires freedom, but only true love can brake the spell. Her wish is nearly granted in the form of a prince. But before he can declare his love, her lustful twin, the Black Swan, tricks and seduces him. Devastetly the White Swan leaps of a cliff, killing herself, and in death finds her freedom." The known-unto-death, medieval story mirrored in Nina Sayers, Lily (fresh imported from the East Coast), the mother and father replacement. The overture of the movie are parts of Swan Lake, followed by Thomas' tale and his demand of one person dancing both parts. Nina, the perfect White Swan and Lily in rivalry for the Black Swan – both entangled in a twisted friendship. Nina, the innocent virgin, must dive into what the Black Swans is, her own, unknown dark. For the price, this the deal, to sacrifice herself – witnessed by mother and the applauding audience. The process towards success is framed by her liberation from her von RotbarthMother: "It's called privacy, I'm not 12 anymore". Black perfection, black freedom. Not liberating love but perfection, black freedom. Thomas, (fatherlike) encourages: "No, not so controlled. Seduce us. Not just the Prince, but the court, the audience, the entire world. Come on. Your fouettées are like spider spinning a web. Attack it, attack it. Come on." And: "Perfection is not just about control. It's also about letting go." And Lilys tease: "Running home to mommy?" Mirrored reality-fantasy starts/ends. Thomas: "The final act. Your final dance! You've tasted your dream. Touched it! Only to have it crushed. Your heart is broken. Wounded! Your life force fading. The blood drips. The black swan stole your love! There is only one way to end the pain. You're not fearful, but filled with acceptance! And you look down at Rothbart and then at the Prince. And then yes, and the audience! And then you jump! Go ahead, jump! You'll be fine. Jump!" And Nina does it. The chocked Thomas: "what did you do?" Nina: I felt it. Perfect. I was perfect". The audience applauding during the ending text. Zizek's 1 July 2011-londonlecture introduces with The Kings Speech and Black Swan. If the first film confirms the males 'by' "devine right" public-private life, without pay - Black Swan is its counterpart. The well known myth (from old times fairytale to The Double Life of Veronique) shows: wo-men must pay for an outside-family-choice. "Between the natural place in the family, withdrawing from public career or, lets call it your mission what you really care about as a career, you will take the price by that."