Why Black Swan became a comfort film for a former young dancer

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  A former young dancer says Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan became an unexpected comfort film.

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  The writer first watched it with their mother in early 2011, at age 12, while training to become a professional dancer.

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  The film initially disturbed the writer, but they kept returning to it for a mix of dread and delight.

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  They describe its enclosed world, ballet focus and visual details as strangely soothing.

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  The writer connects the film’s effect to its portrayal of Nina Sayers’ all-consuming commitment to ballet.

Who

The article’s writer, who was a young dancer, and their mother watched the film. The writer’s name is not stated.

What

The writer describes why Black Swan became a comfort film despite disturbing them at first.

When

They first watched it in early 2011, after it was released on home video.

Where

The first viewing was at home with the writer’s mother. The film is set in New York City.

Why

The writer says the film’s enclosed world and focus on an artist consumed by ballet became soothing, while its dread and delight kept drawing them back.

This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.