film opening analysis

1. EmilyMorris – Pre production
Film Analysis – Black Swan (2010)Directed by
Darren Afronofsky
The dance showninthe firstscene of the film hasquite sinister
elementstoitwhere itoftenlooksasthoughthe protagonistisbeing
chased,trappedandrestrictedwhichare all elements commonly
presentinpsychological thrillers.Bymakingthe dance seemthisway,
it acts as a foreshadowingdeviceforhow dance isthe thingthat
ultimatelydrivesthe protagonisttolose control of hermind.The
lightingthroughout isquite low key whichaddssinisterelementsto
the scene apart froma spotlightthatremainsconstantlyfocusedon
the protagonist. The spotlight,however,isstill quite dimwhich
connotesthe fact thatNina(the protagonist) isunhappy. The use of
the spotlightalsoanchors the ideathat thisfilmissetwithinatheatre
world.
The camera is handheldthroughoutthisscene whichmakesitseem
rather fluid,muchlike adance itself.However,thisalsogivesthe scene
quite a voyeuristiceffect,asif the protagonistisbeingwatchedlike
preyand iscompletelyhelpless. Asthe characterlungestowardsthe camerainvariousclose up
shots,we as the audience getthe feelingthatshe istryingto escape butwe are part of a barrier
that’salsoconfiningher.
The audience see aclose up of her feet,highlightingthatshe isadancer. Thisclose upalsoshows
the dedicationandskill thathasgone intothe character perfectinghertalentwhichisreflective of
howstronglythe character strivesforperfectioninherdancingthroughoutthe film. The camera
continuestofollowNina'sfeetasshe dances,thenusesamediumshotas she finishesherdance and
gentlysitsonthe floor.The audience thensee a wide shotasa man entersfrombehindNinainthe
dark, the spotlightremainingonNinainordertocreate mysteryas the man cannot be clearlyseen.
As the man enters,the shotismore jerkyat thispointwhichemphasisesthe fearthatthismanwill
bringto Nina. Asthe man reachesNinaa close up of her face isshown whichfurtheremphasisesher
fear.The camera thenfollowsthembothastheydance, circlingaroundtheirmovementmuchlike a
shark circlesitsprey,suggestingthatNinaishelplessandindanger.
Afterthe man hasleftand Ninaisalone onthe stage,her dancingbecomesmuchgentlerandslower
whichmimicsthe bird-like nature of the swanitself.Thisideaof Ninaalmostbecomingthe swanat
the endof thisscene couldbe seenasreflective of how she allowsthe role tocompletelyconsume
hermindthroughoutthe filmanddrive herto a state of insanity. The camerazoomsoutas she
dancesintothe lightincenterstage,suggestingthatshe hasnow become the white swan. She isin
white toshowher innocence andpurityatthe start of the film.
The mise enscene includes costume that’salso quite darkwith verylow keylightingandablack
backdrop.Later on inthe film, the protagonistfailstoimpressthe directorwithherblackswan
dance and spendsthe whole filmcompetingwiththe characterwhodoesplaythe blackswan which
resultsinhercompletelylosinghermind.The factthatshe is showntobe dancinginwhatcan be

2. EmilyMorris – Pre production
assumedasthe blackswan role reflectsthe ideathatthe blackswanwill be of great importance to
herand verysignificantinhermental decline withblackhavingconnotationsof negativityand
ultimatelydeath.
Also,the fact thatshe is dancinginthe role of the blackswan butdressedinthe white swancostume
suggeststhather innocence andpuritywill become corruptedbythe blackswanrole.Thisisthen
reflectedthroughoutthe filmasherdesperationtobe the perfectblackswancausesherto do
thingsthat are entirelyoutof character andgo againsther innocent demeanouratthe start of the
film.
The camera shotsconstantlyfollowthe charactersandfrequentlycutto variousclose upand
mediumshots,withlowerangledshotsalwaysfallingonNinatoemphasise hervulnerabilityinthe
dance.The editinghere isalsoquite fastpacedwhichcreatesthe atmosphere of panicinorderto
reflectNina’sfearandalso createsa sense of confusionwithinthe scene.This,coupledwiththe
music,makesthe scene become sinisterandturnsthe simple actof dance into somethingquite
threatening.
The main soundthatwe hearthroughoutthisscene isnon-diegetic. AsNinastartstodance the
musicremainsclassical,howeverthe volume increases.The firstnon diegeticsoundisheardwhen
Ninaaudibly gaspswhenthe manentersandstarts dancingwithherwhichanchorsthe ideathat
she’sfearful towardsthischaracter.Asthe twocharacters start to dance quicklytogetherthe music
volume increasesandbecomesmore powerful thanbefore.Asthe camerazooms outto become a
wide shot,the musicbecomescalmerandquieter, whichmirrors how herdancingisslowingdown.
I reallylike howthe directorhasmanagedtouse techniquessuchasuse of low light,sinistermusic
and camerashots that followthe charactersandchange angle frequentlytomake quite aninnocent
act seemominousandscary.I wouldlike tocorporate some of these elementsintomyfilmbecause
these are all commonconventionsof apsychological thrillerthatI feel myconsumerwill enjoy.