Black Swan

Saturday, July 22
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1hr 47mins // directed by:Darren Aronofsky // featuring:Natalie Portman, Vincent Cassel, Mila Kunis // 35mm

Black Swan follows the story of Nina (Natalie Portman), a dancer in a New York City ballet company whose life, like all those in her profession, is completely consumed by her career.

Nina 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 (Mila 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.

The Boston Globe

"Superbly calibrated...Aronofsky uses cinema to fully inhabit a character’s kaleidoscopic ruptures." — Wesley Morris

Full Review


The New York Times

"Part tortured-artist drama, Black Swan looks like a tony art-house entertainment. (Hey, there’s Lincoln Center!) But what gives it a jolt is its giddy, sometimes sleazy exploitation-cinema savvy." — Manohla Dargis

Full Review


The New York Times (feature)

The New York Times profiles Natalie Portman, and the intense ballet training she undertook to prepare for her role in Black Swan.

Full Article