Darren Aronofsky’s movies are no strangers to ambiguous endings that have multiple interpretations and ‘Black Swan‘ is one of them. The movie follows the story of a ballerina named Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman) who becomes obsessed with the idea of playing the lead role in ‘Swan Lake‘. ‘Black Swan‘ has been recognized for its significant character analysis and a deep dive into the trope of the “tortured artist”.
Nina struggles with her own sanity throughout the film, as she attempts to embody both the innocent White Swan and the seductive Black Swan. She becomes consumed with the fear of being replaced once she encounters Lily (Mila Kunis) who is her understudy. Her fear and anxiety descend into madness and it’s captured marvelously by the third act of the film. Despite the final shot of Nina smiling at the camera, the ending of ‘Black Swan‘ has prompted various attempts from the audience to decipher its meaning.
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‘Black Swan’: The Significance Of Final Scene
In the final scene of ‘Black Swan‘, Nina is seen performing the final act of ‘Swan Lake‘ to perfection before collapsing on stage. Considering her abdominal wound from the previous scene was still open and bleeding, it is highly likely that Nina dies on stage due to the bleeding. Nina looks serene as she says “Perfect. I was perfect” while the director and the rest of the crew scramble to call for an ambulance.
The screen then fades to white, leaving the ending ambiguous as to whether Nina succumbed to her injuries or not. It’s uncertain whether Nina recovers from her wounds or those were her dying moments. The fade to white might symbolize Nina’s descent into heaven or perhaps suggest that Nina has fully immersed herself in the role of the White Swan, with no return.
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What Does The Ending Mean?
The main theme of Aronofsky’s movie is the price of perfection. It is crystal clear that Nina is a tortured artist whose obsession and longing for perfection leave her mentally unstable. One question that arises is how much of Nina’s relationship with Lily was a result of her psychosis. Despite the truth behind their relationship, the real villain of the story is neither Lily nor Nina, but rather mental illness itself.
‘Black Swan‘ is a powerful commentary on mental illness, as evidenced by Nina’s struggles throughout the length of the film. Her battle with food guilt and bulimia is seen by her refusal to eat her birthday cake or puking just to maintain her ballerina weight. This along with her performance anxiety, overprotective mother and self-harming tendencies lead her to a gradual descent into psychosis. Her final words and expression of contentment suggest that she has finally attained the perfection that she so longed for and is satisfied with her artistic achievements.
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