Obsession jumps out at me as a key theme in the "Black Swan." Thanks to the power of obsession: - NINA loses her grip on reality, causes herself mental physical, emotional damage. - ERICA (Nina's mother) becomes a bitter hermit, a one trick pony painter, and an unhealthy control freak. - BETH hospitalizes herself in an apparent suicide attempt after getting replaced by Nina - too obsessed for a Plan B. - THOMAS gains a reputation for pushing/manipulating his dancers towards fitting into his creative vision. Lilly is the only key character who seems too cool for obsession. Lilly's reward = she is constantly smiling or laughing more often then any of the other 4 characters combined.

I think that "Perfectionism" is a big theme here. And they all get it wrong. NINA - her entire life has been aimed towards perfectionism. Dancers start very young. They train endlessly. Notice that every single room had tons of mirrors in it? That's so they can constantly look "at their lines, their form". To be perfect. But her perfectionism almost kept her from the "Role of a Lifetime" - the Swan Queen. Thomas spent the entire movie admonishing Nina to drop the perfectionism, "to let go"; "to feel it", not try to perfect every single step. On p. 34, Thomas and Nina are together on the upper floor of the arena, watching Lily dance down below in a fluid, carefree manner: Thomas: "Watch the way she moves . . . a little sloppy, but sensual. She's not faking it. Pay attention." ERICA - yes, she obviously loves her daughter. But she acts like a sister, or a BFF, not a mother (it was embarassing when they were DELIGHTED to see the lonely grapefruit for dinner, then pretending it was sooo pretty!). A former dancer, she certainly appreciates the quest for perfection. But it appears the pregancy was unexpected, and ended her career at age 28. So she has channeled that perfectionism into raising a little dancing robot. On p.25 - ERICA: "My daughter, the Swan Queen". Erica presents a GIANT TEDDY BEAR IN A TUTU to Nina (to go along with the other 2000 stuffed animals in this "young adult's" room). ERICA: "You want to cuddle with her?" So Erica has shot for perfection for 25 years or so, and she is driving her daughter to go mad. Nina is emotionally and sexually immature. Nina is so smothered that she'll do anything to break free ("It's my turn".) BETH - a "has been"? She looked pretty hot to me . . . But Beth also was on the drive to perfection. She "had it all", (was referred to as "My little princess" by Thomas), the toast of the arts world, a star ballerina. Then one fine day, she cracked, herself. * Script (p.42) Thomas: "Jumped off her fire escape, fell four stories". * Film = "She walked into the street and got hit by a car . . . I think it was intentional . . . I guess that's what makes her so thrilling to watch . . . so dangerous . . . even perfect at times" (@ 41:24). Another victim claimed by Perfectionism. The irony, of course, is that in their quest for perfection (in one area of their lives), they blow it in every other area. John A

Perfection is huge in "Black Swan" - visually represented by the "White Swan" = controlled, structured, well-mannered, innocent. While Nina's perfection goes head-to-head with "Freedom" represented by the "Black Swan" - sentual, creative, expressive and mature. What makes the quest for perfection so tragic is that it is ultimately unattainable.