Black Swan
Movie, 2010, Named by fans, Set in Second in the trilogy
Black Swan is #39 of 48 in release order and #41 of 48 in chronological order in the Spiritual Trilogies.
The story
A committed dancer struggles to maintain her sanity after winning the lead role in a production of Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake."
Black Swan recap
Nina Sayers, a dancer in a New York City ballet company, lives with her controlling mother Erica, a former dancer. Director Thomas Leroy pushes out the aging star Beth and casts Nina as the Swan Queen in a new Swan Lake, but tells her she is perfect for the White Swan and lacks the sensuality for the Black Swan. A new dancer, Lily, is relaxed and free on stage, and Thomas suggests Nina study her. Nina starts seeing her double, scratching her back raw, and imagining a rash of feathers. She goes out with Lily, takes drugs, and either has or imagines a night with her. Waking late, she finds Lily dancing in her place and believes Lily wants the role. Beth, now injured, stabs her own face with a nail file when Nina visits. On opening night Nina is late, Erica tries to keep her home, and she fights her way to the theatre. The Obsessed Artist Trilogy places it as a portrait of an artist destroyed by perfection.
Black Swan ending explained
Nina performs the ballet perfectly while bleeding to death from a wound she gave herself. At the interval she finds Lily in her dressing room as the Black Swan, fights her, and stabs her with a shard of mirror, hiding the body. She then dances the Black Swan as if transformed. Lily turns up alive to congratulate her, and Nina sees the glass is in her own stomach. She finishes the ballet, falls onto the mattress, and tells Thomas she was perfect as the screen goes white.
Post-credits scenes
No. There is no post-credits scene.
Where to watch Black Swan
Black Swan isn't on a US streaming service right now. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 8.0/10, Rotten Tomatoes 85%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Burn After Reading, before Inside Job.
- Chronological order: after Amadeus, before Whiplash.
Cast
- Natalie Portman as Nina Sayers / The Swan Queen
- Mila Kunis as Lily / The Black Swan
- Vincent Cassel as Thomas Leroy / The Gentleman
- Barbara Hershey as Erica Sayers / The Queen
- Winona Ryder as Beth Macintyre / The Dying Swan
- Benjamin Millepied as David Moreau / The Prince
- Ksenia Solo as Veronica / Little Swan
- Kristina Anapau as Galina / Little Swan
- Janet Montgomery as Madeline / Little Swan
- Sebastian Stan as Andrew / Suitor
- Toby Hemingway as Tom / Suitor
- Sergio Torrado as Sergio / Rothbart
Directed by Darren Aronofsky.