Black Swan Scene Analysis...

  The scene that i am analysing within this drama, thriller and horror film, is the key moment  having just performed her career defining performance  as the black swan, Nina Sayers is isolated in her  dressing room and  realises that  she has stabbed herself. In the confusion she continues to perform her finale 
dance which then ends in the tragedy of   her death.

  Immediately we see a key element of mise en scene, the grey rough bricks  create the setting.  With no paint or plastering  the bricks are raw  and their grey colour imposes the scene,   this combination  creates and unwelcome sense. This is important , as although  not a generic horror this film still carries the convention of dull cold colours to contrast any other colour of significance , such as blood,  to create  a even  greater effect.

 A colour contrast we see is  between Ninas   black  attire and the  others white attire. This obvious contrast  of mise en scene costumes  can reflect the  clear divide   between  Ninas state of mind  in comparison to a  regular state of mind. Another element that contributes to this is the  action of Portman   walking down steps  past other that are going up the stairs , this is a literal contrast ,  going the opposite way to anyone else implies that she  is going some where isolated.

This action also follows another horror convention , as the  movement of descending   down  suggests that  the   character  is going  somewhere   negative, thus creating a sense of suspense. The use of a hand held  camera  with bumpy shots create a sense of rush and also a  sense of unease as the  slight knocks  are not obvious  but their  presence can    show that something is not quite right with Ninas focus.

Here we can see the  crown of the Black Swan  placed  onto a mannequin  in the left hand side of the shot, this could represent  the thought that the  darkness is  ever-present in the Swans eyes, she is applying the  white makeup  representing innocence yet  the crown is still  there taking pride of place. The lighting from the mirror creates a white light : covered and dressed in all  white  provides a further contrast to the  harsh colour of the black crown. 

 At the moment of realisation   that  she has stabbed herself ,  intense music  is used  with  a medium close up shot  to obtain all facial expressions and  emotion.  Then  tilting downwards to  reveal the bloody wound.  The Mise en scene is the use of the white  costume  contrasting with  the   deep red blood, the use of this  gives a greater effect  of shock as the blood is more obvious.  We see deep red blood seeping through  a white costume who's fabric seems to apear as a bandage material. This may represent that  having  hidden and wrapped up her troubles the truth is finally seeping through. Also the use of bandages reflect a feeling of  being unwell and broken.

During her final performance having been  wounded  there is a fantastic moment  when Nina  rises up the stairs   as a final moment before collapsing. This is a pinnacle point  where all feelings  are concluded and   we can realise that this is the end.Nina has risen up  from previously having gone down to a dark place,  this opposite effect shows rejoice  ,returning to a place where  the swan  wants to be .  Lighting also contributes to this moment as   they    increase brightness in accordance with Ninas  rising up the stairs, being  the brightest gold at the end. Nina has reached the end of a performance in dance and also life, lit in  a circle of gold is she finally a winner?