Black Swan

That Darren Aronofsky does not direct simple cinema merchandise, the visionary director has more than impressively proven with films like "Requiem for a Dream" or most recently "The Wrestler". But with his latest film, "Black Swan", Aronofsky has taken his craftsmanship to new heights, even if the end result may not appeal to everyone for that very reason.

For young ballerina Nina (Golden Globe winner Natalie Portman), a dream comes true: she gets the opportunity to dance not only the innocent white swan but also the demonic black swan in a production of "Swan Lake". But while she seems perfect for the white swan scenes, the darker moments are still very difficult for her. Ballet director Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel) pushes the dedicated dancer to explore the dark side within herself and bring it to the dance floor. Desperate, Nina begins to struggle with herself. But when the attractive Lily (Mila Kunis) shows up and could steal her thunder, Nina falls deeper and deeper into a self-destructive struggle that keeps pushing her to the edge between delusion and reality.

"Black Swan" is a perfectly choreographed psychological thriller that draws on individual elements to create a fascinating whole. This doesn't just mean the interplay between the actual play scenes and the dance scenes. Purposefully used sound effects, the play with light and shadow, the use and variation of music, all this makes "Black Swan" a truly special viewing event. As with his previous films, Aronofsky once again manages to push his actors to the top of their game. Natalie Portman has prepared herself for this physically as well as mentally demanding role with months of training, so that she can fully convince not only as an actress but also as a dancer. But here also lies one of the film's weaknesses. Because Nina's transformation from a shy girl to a dark, demonic swan happens very slowly, so that you are primarily accompanied by Natalie Portman's suffering look through the mysterious events. And that, especially because of Portman's strong and convincing performance, can quickly wear on your nerves.

Not to be left unmentioned are the other cast members. Mila Kunis, once star of the sitcom "The Wild Seventies", is perfectly cast as Nina's beguiling yet tough-as-nails competitor, and Vincent Cassel is at his best as the imperious ballet director, because he is extremely unpleasant yet somehow charismatic. And even Winona Ryder, who has hardly made acting headlines in recent years, is able to return to her old form in a small supporting role.

Now, of course, one could write at length about symbolism and the various levels of "Black Swan". But although the film would be predestined for this because of its complexity, "Black Swan" is in the end a film that should in no way be talked down and analyzed through, but should be experienced by each viewer himself. It's a psycho trip, an audiovisual experience that won't open up to everyone, but is absolutely worth watching for the mesmerizing production and impressive cast performances alone.

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp