From wrestling to classical ballet, director Darren Aronofsky has crafted another exquisite cinematic exploration of identity and performance. Black Swan is psychologically thrilling cinema at its finest. As the artistic director of a world-class ballet company (a stand-in for the New York City Ballet), Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel), starts the new season by firing his vitriolic, aging prima ballerina (Winona Ryder). Lecherous and manipulative, Thomas decides to stage a new and cutting edge production of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, a ballet that requires one dancer to portray the two sides of the Swan Queen: the innocent and naïve White Swan and the sensual and seductive Black Swan.
Nina (Natalie Portman) is a timid but dedicated dancer in the company. Like most ballerinas, dancing is her life and her overbearing mother (Barbara Hershey), a former ballerina, ensures that her life is comprised of nothing but ballet. In a state of continual childhood innocence, Nina dances by day and sleeps by night under the watchful eye of her suffocating mother. A technically flawless dancer, Nina is perfect for the role of the White Swan. But she lacks the passionate abandon that is needed for the other half of the role. When a new dancer, Lily (Mila Kunis), joins the company, she has all the sensual energy that Nina lacks. Intimidated by this power, Nina becomes obsessed with her rival and the two form an uneasy relationship where Lily tries to help Nina reveal her repressed dark side through drugs, sex and wild debauchery.
But as the role begins to consume her, strange things happen to Nina. Her body changes, as does her mind, and the line between the production and reality begins to blur in a terrifying transformation.
With stunning visuals and masterful performances, Black Swan combines a rare mix of beauty and grotesquerie to shape a remarkable narrative. Potent and dazzling, Aronofsky’s latest feature is a testament to his visionary talent.
Monday September 13
9:30:00 PM
ROY THOMSON HALL
Tuesday September 14
11:00:00 AM
VISA SCREENING ROOM (ELGIN)
Saturday September 18
9:00:00 PM
RYERSON
Tickets are $22.25, ($19.25 for students and seniors) for the Elgin and Ryerson screenings, $43.25 ($21.50 for students and seniors) for the gala screening at Roy Thomson Hall.
Purchase anytime between September 3 and the day of screening at the Festival Box Office, by phone 416-968-FILM or online at tiff.net
1.Pick up at Festival Box Office or Venue Box Office
*If film is off sale:
Additional tickets may become available at 7am day of screening – go to Festival/Venue Box Office
Sometimes there are unused seats because not all ticketholders show up. These are made available to the Rush Line at the Venue Box Office (10 minutes before the screening)
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