Product Research - Black Swan

Black Swan

Mis-en-scene

The title sequence uses the contrasting colours of white and black. To create the sense of innocence and purity in comparison to evil and mystery. The use at the beginning in conjoining the two introduces the idea of the pure being corrupted and tainted. It foreshadows the plot of the movie.

The lighting at the start of scene 1 uses a spotlight with a dense black background. The bright light becomes more disorientating, whilst the black offers mystery and and builds anticipation as the audience doesn't know who could be hiding in the overriding darkness.

The clothing represents the perception the film is trying to enforce on the audience. Natalie Portman is seen in white throughout offering naivety and innocence. Whilst in the dancing scene a man is seen dressed in black and dominating Portman, creating the sense that evil and death will consume her, which subsequently is what occurs. It also creates the conceptualization of enforcing gender stereotypes. As the woman is instantly represented as fragile and innocent while the male controls her through movement.

Camera

A high angle shot of Natalie Portman, moments previously to the male dancer entering, presents her as vulnerable. Her positioning of the body of her small and scrunched up stance, makes her appear smaller again emphasising her vulnerability.

A handheld camera is used to create a tracking shot of the male dancer as he enters the scene.

This creates a gritty realism to the scene, as we feel as if we are there making the movements and storyline more effective. As we can't see the face of the male dancer this creates mystery and makes the audience feel unsettled. We feel a loyalty to the seemingly innocent Portman and the sense of realism make us want to help her as the danger seems so real. He is also positioned on the left hand side of the screen creating the sense he has a journey to make, the audience come to the conclusion the journey may be at the peril of Portman herself.

Close-up's are used to draw attention to Portman's feet, foreshadowing the main storyline of the film - ballet dancing. This emphasis this feature to the audience as she has woken up, creating the sense of continuity and that it wasn't unattainable and unrelated dreams.The audience is already aware of what the film will be centred around and it's primary factor into which the themes lead from.

Editing

Fast-paced editing is used at the beginning of the scene, to create tension and confusion. This emphasis the fast paced movement and developments in the dance. Subsequently slow paced editing is used instantly as Portman waked from her dream. This interests the audience and grabs their attention as the change is abrupt.

The scene which is Portman's dream cuts straight to her waking up. The lack of obscurity and low quality in her dream in relation to the editing sequence that lacks a montage, creates the sense her dream was as genuine as reality. Already the idea of merging fantasy and the minds own conceptualizations intertwined with reality is introduced

Sound

The use of a digetic soundtrack also uses the idea of fantasy and reality as one. As usually in films they begin with a non-digetic soundtrack to set the scene and mood, although Black Swan in contrast does the opposite. An orchestral soundtrack is also used, building tension and anticipation. It climaxes through the darkness and confusion, creating the sense of an obscured predominant event, foreshadowing Portman's unexpected death.