A surprising, full-blooded audience teaser set in the world of ballet.

Rating: 8/10 (18 February 2011)

Black Swan is a film which defies your expectations. It is well worth coming into the film cold, knowing as little as possible about the plot. I was half-expecting some sort of character study about a young girl struggling to cope with the demands of the ballet. I thought perhaps we would follow her on a journey through her trials and tribulations in the industry, leading to either an uplifting or downbeat conclusion. I certainly didn't expect the film that Black Swan actually is – a dark, frightening, edgy tale of madness and all-consuming pressure, with strong elements of horror and erotica.
Dedicated ballet dancer Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman) is given the prestigious lead role in the ballet Swan Lake. Nina has been with the same New York company for several years under the direction of the talented but perpetually moody Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel). She lives at home with her over-bearing and obsessive mother Erica (Barbara Hershey). The role is a dream come true for Nina, who believed her years of dedication and hard work would go unnoticed as in previous seasons. To her joy, Leroy is willing to give her a shot at the greatest role in ballet. He knows Nina will be amazing as the White Swan, but is worried that she lacks the dark energy and sinfulness needed to pull off the dual role of the Black Swan. Soon the pressure of the role begins to take its toll on Nina, and she finds herself experiencing terrifying hallucinations and growing paranoia. When a new arrival named Lily (Mila Kunis) joins the ballet troupe, Nina's state worsens further as she convinces herself that Lily is some sort of doppelganger or rival out to steal her role. And her mother's non-stop interference just serves to suffocate Nina even more, pushing her beyond the edge of sanity
Black Swan is certainly not for all tastes. Some of the gory, grisly imagery is as unexpected as it is stomach-churning. Similarly, some of the sex scenes are surprisingly graphic. If you come to the film expecting something subtle and civilised set in the world of ballet, chances are you'll be taken aback by what you see. However, if you're in the mood for a deliberately excessive and disorientating thriller, this really delivers. The film has an over-the-top approach which starts somewhere near the point of hysteria and just works its way up from there. Portman is wonderful in the main role, with strong support from the alluring Kunis, sleazy Cassel and stifling Hershey. Their performances are supremely polished and help disguise some of the film's more ludicrous moments. This is a bold and enthralling movie which delights in whisking its audience away on a head-trip that is alternately bewildering, nerve-jangling and exciting.