Yeah, judge me, judge me, but I saw the black swan for the second time tonight. (but only paid a dollar this time) and not only did I go see it but I had to work hard to do so, this meant sneaking in! Me and Katelin bought a ticket to Narnia...but didn't actually intend on seeing Narnia. I take being eighteen for granted, let me tell you that. anyways, once we settled in our seats and stopped worrying that ever person that walked into the theatre was someone coming to kick us out, I started analyzing, (like I do to absolutely everything). Here is a plot summary for all you good little ladies and gents that did not go see this rated R movie in the first place.
Nina 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 who exerts a suffocating control over her. When artistic director Thomas Leroy decides to replace prima ballerina Beth MacIntyre for the opening production of their new season, Swan Lake, Nina is his first choice. But Nina has competition: a new dancer, Lily, 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.Thomas Leroy, the artistic director of a New York City ballet company, is mounting Swan Lake as the company's next production. Many of the ballerinas in the company aspire for the lead, which would have previously gone to the company's former principle dancer Beth Macintyre before her forced retirement. No one wants the the role more than Nina Sayers, who lives to dance, so much so that she wants to be exactly like Beth in every aspect. Nina lives with her overbearing mother, Erica Sayers, a former ballerina who now lives vicariously through her daughter as she never made it as a ballerina herself. Nina is a technically proficient and hard working dancer who can easily capture the essence of the innocent white swan, but Thomas doesn't believe she has the dark passion required to portray the black swan. An unexpected move by Nina convinces Thomas that Nina may have what it takes, and he gives her the lead. Thomas will do anything to get that passion out of her. Nina feels that her new place in the company is threatened by Lily, a ballerina newly arrived into the company from San Francisco. Lily, who is looser in every aspect of her life than Nina, encompasses the essence of the black swan more so than Nina. But as Nina believes Lily is to her what she herself was to Beth, Nina, in doing whatever it takes to be perfect as both the white swan and the black swan, descends into madness.
Now I am not justifying that this movie is good, or uplifting but I can and will say that it sends a good message. It is chock-full of symbolism. Just for example, black swan, temptation or sin, white swan, innocence or virtue. When nina is being described and her bedroom is being shown, you notice that there are stuffed animals, pastels covering every inch, basically just like the room has not been touched since she was an innocent little girl which is what she is, innocent. Lily, the rebellious, seductive, initially more appealing to the world girl is the exact opposite, the most bad influencing example that Nina falls into the trap of following. Ninas mom, representing insecurity and a reaffirmation of what she does not want to become. Until within the ballet, Nina is cased as the swan queen, do these things start to become effective.
This movie the best example of how we are all living our lives with temptation as well as jealousy. We are surrounded with things that tempt us, whatever that might be, and even though we all know what is right from wrong, it is not always obvious what your decision should be, especially when you are already so week. Sometimes we just want to throw the stuffed animals in the garbage and say, to hell with innocence when the other side clearly looks so much more desirable. When you fall for these temptations, there is only one way to travel; Down, we are on a slippery slope as it is and to fall for temptation and jealousy is just like greasing the ski's so much that you eventually lose control. In the end of the movie, I liked knowing while watching the white swan fall to her death, because of endless pressure of temptation that over took her, that I know that no matter how far I fall, and however deep, There is always a way to stand again. Repentance.
by the way...Can I also just say that a good theme to live by that has been magnified to me this week is that honesty really is the best policy.
xxXo
Lauren
