‘A rare indulgence’: why Black Swan is my feelgood movie
A writer explores why Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan, which they first watched at age 12 with their mother, has evolved from a disturbing film into their comfort movie. Despite (or perhaps because of) its dark psychological narrative about a ballet dancer's mental breakdown during her pursuit of the Swan Queen role, the film has become a cherished refuge that the author returns to repeatedly.
The film's claustrophobic world, with Nina confined to subway cars, her apartment, and the Lincoln Center, creates an unexpectedly soothing atmosphere. With each rewatch, the author finds comfort in Natalie Portman's physically demanding performance, the film's intimate framing and pale colour palette, and the intensity of watching an artist entirely consumed by their craft—a world so insular it becomes a strange kind of haven.
- Black Swan's dark psychological narrative about ballet and breakdown has become author's comfort film.
- Film's claustrophobic world and intimate cinematography create an unexpectedly soothing and comforting experience.
- Portman's physical commitment to the role showcases ballet's delicate beauty hidden beneath extreme pain.
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Black Swan is a 2010 film directed by Darren Aronofsky about a ballet dancer experiencing a severe mental breakdown whilst pursuing the Swan Queen role at New York's Lincoln Center. The film's world is confined primarily to the dancer's apartment, subway journeys and the theatre itself, creating a claustrophobic visual environment enhanced by its intense cinematography and unsettling aesthetic. Starring Natalie Portman, most viewers experience the film as a dark and challenging work.
Yet one writer has developed an unconventional relationship with the film, finding comfort in what most see as distressing. After first watching it at age twelve with their mother, they have returned to it repeatedly over the years, finding what was initially disturbing to be oddly soothing.
The writer explores how the film's intimate visual style, claustrophobic setting and depiction of an artist wholly devoted to their craft have become sources of refuge for them. They explain what draws them repeatedly to this particular film despite its psychological intensity.
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