Welcome to our Colossus Movie Guide for Black Swan. This guide contains everything you need to understand the movie. You’ll find a quick explanation of Black Swan, as well as our library of material covering key aspects of the movie. We encourage comments to help us put together the best possible guide. Thank you!
The Quick Explanation
Black Swan is a modern retelling of the famous ballet Swan Lake. But Darren Aronofsky uses the story as a launching pad to very modern, relevant topics. First and foremost is the discussion of perfectionism and how it leads to negative, self-limiting thoughts. On top of that is the impact of a parent who pushes ideology onto a child, in this case it’s “be a perfect ballerina”. Then there’s the exploration of the profession of ballet as a whole, a continuation from Aronofsky’s previous film, The Wrestler, in which he explored the pressures and cost of another genre of scripted dance. Black Swan resonates because many of us can be a little bit like Nina when it comes to our work.
Cast
- Nina Sayers/White Swan/Odette – Natalie Portman
- Lily/Black Swan/Odile – Mila Kunis
- Thomas Leroy/The Gentleman – Vincent Cassel
- Erica Sayers/The Queen – Barbara Hershey
- Beth MacIntyre/The Dying Swan – Winona Ryder
- David Moreau/Prince Siegfried – Benjamin Millepied
- Written by – Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz, John McLaughlin
- Directed by – Darren Aronofsky
Movie Guide
Podcast
Chris and Travis share an in-depth discussion of the strengths and flaws of Black Swan.
Title Explanation
What does the title Black Swan mean? What does it tell us about the movie’s intentions and storyline? Let’s figure it out.
Themes and Meaning
Discover themes that help us define Black Swan’s commentary, message, and meaning.
Ending Explained
If the ending of Black Swan confused you, this explanation will help you understand everything you need to know.
Important Motifs
Explore important motifs that indicate Black Swan’s most crucial moments of symbolism.
Key Shots
A visual guide to Black Swan. Coming soon.
Questions and Answers
If you have questions about Black Swan, we have answers. Comment what you’re curious about and receive a response.
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