A detailed synopsis & interpretation of the 2010 psychological thriller

The 2010 psychological thriller Black Swan, directed by Darren Aronofsky, was a hit among audiences, depicting one ballerina’s relentless pursuit of success no matter the cost. Natalie Portman stars as Nina, a talented but timid ballet dancer at a prestigious New York City ballet company. She yearns to be cast as the swan queen in the latest rendition of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, but her ambition ultimately leads her down a path of madness, obsession, and delusion. Keep reading for an in-depth breakdown of what happens in the film, how it ends, and what it could all mean. Warning: spoilers ahead.

A ballet dancer named Nina loses control in her pursuit of perfection after she's cast as the lead in Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. Nina's self-harming behaviors, volatile relationship with her mother, and delusions of a dopplëganger who is out to get her all culminate in a final psychotic episode where she stabs herself.

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Nina is a ballet dancer who dreams of getting the lead in Swan Lake . She lives with her mother, Erica, with whom she has a strained, codependent relationship. Early on, we see scratch marks on Nina’s back, which appear self-inflicted. At the theater, we learn that Beth, the current swan queen, is being forced into retirement. We are also introduced to Lily, a new dancer with a rebellious streak, and Thomas Leroy, the Artistic Director. All the dancers are uneasy around him as he announces his intentions to find a new swan queen for their upcoming rendition of Swan Lake, and he picks Nina to audition. [1]