2. Black swan
movie
•Genre: drama, mystery
•Directed by: Darren Aronofsky
Writers: Mark Heyman (screenplay), Andres Heinz (screenplay) (as
Andrés Heinz)
3. Film synopsis
Nina (Portman) is 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 obsessive former ballerina mother Erica (Hershey) who exerts a suffocating
control over her. When artistic director Thomas Leroy (Cassel) decides to
replace prima ballerina Beth MacIntyre (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 - a recklessness that threatens to destroy her.
4. Production company logo
Dark sinister credits are used during the
opening. White, bold text is used on a dark
background, allowing attention to be drawn to the writing by
making it stand out, but is ironic as it is the 'Black Swan' so the
audience would expect the title to be black text on a white
background. The darkness is typical of opening for a thriller, and
helps to draw conclusions that this is going to be a sinister,
creepy and mysterious narrative.
The titles read:
Fox searchlight pictures presents
In association with
Cross Creek Pictures
5. sound
The non-diegetic music is used during the beginning of this clip,
when the main character is dancing. The music is high pitched
with multiple stings, which isn't typical for a thriller and makes
the audience wonder why the non-diegetic music isn't sinister.
However, soon after, a man enters, but the music continues.
Composed over the top is a deep eerie rumble which all of a
sudden changes the feel of the narrative to tense, making the
audience feel the suspense and adds to the narrative enigma, as
it is assumed that the main ballet dancer is the protagonist, but
the audience are left to wonder who the man is, and due to the
change in genre of music when he is introduced, we assume him
to be the antagonist which would be typical for a male
antagonist in a thriller with a female protagonist.
6. Mise en scene
At the very beginning of the narrative low key lighting is used, to
portray the ballet dancer (the main character). She is depicted in a
dark room, but the audience don't know why she is there dancing or
where in particular this scene is set. This adds to the eeriness and
darkness which is a typical convention of a thriller, as the characters
are less easy to identify due to the darkness, due to the limited
lighting. The shadows create a spooky atmosphere keeping the
audience engaged foreshadowing the dark events to come, while the
bright spotlight on the dancer at the beginning suggests that she is
the focal point of the narrative and is the one to carefully watch.
7. camera
A close up shot is used of the ballerinas feet when she is
dancing, at the beginning of the narrative. This shows the quick
movement of her feet, which could foreshadow that the events
in the narrative will happen quickly, and that the storyline will be
fast paced. The fact that the camera is completely focused on
this character suggests to the audience that she is going to be
the focal point, and that the narrative will revolve around her life
as a ballet dancer. Due to the fact that the audience are having
to watch her movement very carefully during this point of the
thriller, suggests that we must watch her every move during the
whole narrative. This is effective because the increased speed of
her movement keeps the audience engaged, whilst adding to the
narrative enigma as we wonder what her role in the narrative will
be and what the significance of her dancing is.
8. editing
Shot reverse shot is used when the ballet dancer and who we
assume to be her Mum are exchanging dialogue in their house
in the morning, after she has had the twisted dream. This is
effective editing because it builds tension as it isn't known how
close their relationship is and their relationship with each
other other before this scene. The fact that her mum also helps
to dress her, adds to the narrative enigma as we do not know
why she is being patronizing, so this adds to the tense
environment we already establish from their relationship.
