1. What was you rationale for choosing this selection?
Well this scene is a great example of what the entire film is about; it has a bit of all the elements of the film. It establishes the conflict Nina faces, which is the plot, and it shows the effects that were used in different scenes. Furthermore, the visual details that are significant to the film are in this scene and the music is very important because it’s relevant to what the characters are experiencing. In addition the cinematography shown here is similar to the other scenes in the film.
However, in other to understand this scene you need to know the ending and understand the meaning of the line “the only person standing in your way is you”. At the end we learn that Nina never stabbed Lily, it was herself the whole time. She stabbed herself thinking she was going to lose her place because she screwed up in her first performance. Her mind went crazy and she ended up killing the innocence and goodness in Nina with the purpose to find her dark side. She literary had to eliminate herself in order to find her inner black swan.
2. How does the extract relate to the film as a whole?
It relates to the genre, a psychological thriller film implies suspense, fear and surprise. When Nina stabs what seems to be her and later converts into Lily shows how everything is part of her imagination. This explains the genre, the fact that someone would dare to kill do the idea of being the perfect swan queen(theme: perfection), it’s scary. This idea was created in Nina’s mind and causes her a mental and physical damage.
3. How is this film constructed according to narrative/story being told?
The story is told in first point of view, Nina’s point of view. We are introduced to Nina as the innocent girl that has worked years to be the best ballerina, and finally her opportunity has come with the role of the Swan Queen. She is a dedicate ballerina and is the perfect white swan, but she has trouble portraying the black swan. She’ll go through so much in order to find her inner black swan no matter the consequences.
The conflict is that Nina believes Lily is trying to take her place as the Swan Queen and that she’s following & provoking her, but it’s all in her mind. Nina is obsessed with being the perfect swan queen and she puts her health (mentally and physically) in danger. After her first performance as the white Swan, she goes back to her dressing room and feels terrible because she fell. Then she sees Lily dressed as the black swan, but when Lily turns away from the mirror she becomes Nina’s double, and then Nina pushes her against the mirror. Nina’s double reaction is by trying to strangle the real Nina while saying “it’s my turn, my turn”.
Suddenly Nina’s neck grows taller and starts to gain force and defends herself by stabbing her double and saying “NO, it’s MY turn”. After this line the fake Nina turns back into Lily and Nina’s reaction is full of surprised. Then someone knocks the door saying “black swan be ready in 5”. Nina realizes she has killed Lily and she decides to hide her in the shower that is part of her dressing room and continue with the play despite everything.
However, in other to understand this scene you need to know the ending and understand the meaning of the line “the only person standing in your way is you”. At the end we learn that Nina never stabbed Lily, it was herself the whole time. She stabbed herself thinking she was going to lose her place because she screw up int her first performance. Her mind went crazy and she ended up killing the innocence and goodness in Nina with the purpose to find her dark side. She literary had to eliminate herself in order to find her inner black swan.
Well this scene is a great example of what the entire film is about; it has a bit of all the elements of the film. It establishes the conflict Nina faces, which is the plot, and it shows the effects that were used in different scenes. Furthermore, the visual details that are significant to the film are in this scene and the music is very important because it’s relevant to what the characters are experiencing. In addition the cinematography shown here is similar to the other scenes in the film.
However, in other to understand this scene you need to know the ending and understand the meaning of the line “the only person standing in your way is you”. At the end we learn that Nina never stabbed Lily, it was herself the whole time. She stabbed herself thinking she was going to lose her place because she screwed up in her first performance. Her mind went crazy and she ended up killing the innocence and goodness in Nina with the purpose to find her dark side. She literary had to eliminate herself in order to find her inner black swan.
2. How does the extract relate to the film as a whole?
It relates to the genre, a psychological thriller film implies suspense, fear and surprise. When Nina stabs what seems to be her and later converts into Lily shows how everything is part of her imagination. This explains the genre, the fact that someone would dare to kill do the idea of being the perfect swan queen(theme: perfection), it’s scary. This idea was created in Nina’s mind and causes her a mental and physical damage.
3. How is this film constructed according to narrative/story being told?
The story is told in first point of view, Nina’s point of view. We are introduced to Nina as the innocent girl that has worked years to be the best ballerina, and finally her opportunity has come with the role of the Swan Queen. She is a dedicate ballerina and is the perfect white swan, but she has trouble portraying the black swan. She’ll go through so much in order to find her inner black swan no matter the consequences.
Suddenly Nina’s neck grows taller and starts to gain force and defends herself by stabbing her double and saying “NO, it’s MY turn”. After this line the fake Nina turns back into Lily and Nina’s reaction is full of surprised. Then someone knocks the door saying “black swan be ready in 5”. Nina realizes she has killed Lily and she decides to hide her in the shower that is part of her dressing room and continue with the play despite everything.
However, in other to understand this scene you need to know the ending and understand the meaning of the line “the only person standing in your way is you”. At the end we learn that Nina never stabbed Lily, it was herself the whole time. She stabbed herself thinking she was going to lose her place because she screw up int her first performance. Her mind went crazy and she ended up killing the innocence and goodness in Nina with the purpose to find her dark side. She literary had to eliminate herself in order to find her inner black swan.
4. Is the narrative organized by plot or time sequence,character driven vs. plot driven?
The narrative is organized by plot because the story has a beginning, climax and resolution. Also is Character driven because the decisions the protagonist (Nina) makes affect the story and have a consequence. Her decisions are what dictate the story of the film. For instance, when she decides to continue with the play after killing Lily; instead of looking for help lead her to the death. Because of her decision she died, she did not looked for help.
5. Does the film use other principles than narrative sequence as a structure (for instance, an argument?
No, it’s about narrative sequence.
6.What is the nature of our engagement with the story or characters?
Well, the nature of our engagement with the story and characters begins with the fact that we can relate regardless if you are a ballerina or not. We all have gone through a similar story or have experienced what the character of Nina feels. We have wanted something badly that we have done dangerous things in order to obtain it. Some of us have tried to reach perfection that along the way we didn’t noticed the price of it. Others, as artists know what it means to do something perfectly and value the years of effort. However, we all have been confused by our minds in different ways and this makes us care for the character and story.
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