Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan has been chosen to open the 67th Venice International Film Festival on September 1, 2010. Black Swan stars Natalie Portman (Closer), Mila Kunis (Date Night), Christopher Gartin (True Blood), Winona Ryder (The Private Lives of Pippa Lee) and Vincent Cassel (Eastern Promises). Aronofsky’s last film, The Wrestler, walked away with the prestigious Golden Lion at the festival in 2008.
Synopsis: Nina (Portman) is a ballerina in a New York City ballet company whose life, like all those in her profession, is completely consumed with dance. She lives with her obsessive former ballerina mother Erica (Hershey) who exerts a suffocating control over her. When artistic director Thomas Leroy (Cassel) decides to replace prima ballerina Beth MacIntyre (Ryder) for the opening production of their new season, Swan Lake, Nina is his first choice. But Nina has competition: a new dancer, Lily (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 – a recklessness that threatens to destroy her.
Black Swan doesn’t yet have a UK or US release date, but expect this to be confirmed either before, or immediately after, the film premiere’s in Venice. The film’s screenplay was penned by Andres Heinz.
After the success of The Wrestler, and the range of themes evident in Aronofsky’s past films, Black Swan has intrigued me ever since it was initially announced, and I’m hopeful it lives up to the unquestionable hype surrounding it’s release.
Unfortunately there’s not yet a trailer or poster for Black Swan. However, ComingSoon have posted an array of new images from the film which you can see below.
