BLACK SWAN follows the story of Nina (Portman), 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 retired ballerina mother Erica (Barbara Hershey) who zealously supports her daughter’s professional ambition. When artistic director Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel) decides to replace prima ballerina Beth Macintyre (Winona 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 with a recklessness that threatens to destroy her.
Black Swan Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2006, All Rights Reserved.
19th Jan 11'
Natalie Portman collected a coveted Golden Globe award as Best Actress for her tour-de-force portrayal of an emotionally fragile ballerina in Black Swan. She deserves to win the Oscar on February 27 for this career-defining performance that required 10 months of gruelling physical preparation before the cameras started rolling. All of that incredible will and discipline in the dance studio certainly pays off - not once do we doubt that Portman could perform the demanding solos from Swan Lake that punctuate this psychological drama.
