tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post5720277600583232321..comments2024-03-07T20:15:45.996-08:00Comments on The Bitter Script Reader: Black Swan - Script vs. the film - Part I: LilyThe Bitter Script Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16575166527272639709noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-31384607170660430762011-01-27T15:04:25.997-08:002011-01-27T15:04:25.997-08:00Interesting... I think that it was possible that N...Interesting... I think that it was possible that Nina stabbed Beth, but I also leaned toward the theory that it was in her head and her first real act of violence was when she stabbed what she thought was Lily. The main reason I'm not willing to 100% commit to her stabbing Beth is that the violence done to Beth is never really revisited. It's not even mentioned. You could say that the blood on the file is evidence something happened, but then we have the disappearing blood in the dressing room to contradict that.<br /><br />This is one of those points where there probably is no "correct" answer, as the film leaves itself open to multiple interpretations. My own feeling is that it's more meaningful for Nina's first truly violent act to be the one on herself as opposed to one that the film doesn't totally validate.<br /><br />As for your point about the champagne, Carlos, I have to admit that I don't recall that detail clearly enough to offer any informed opinion, but I will watch for it on my next viewing.The Bitter Script Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16575166527272639709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-76251707144237427972011-01-27T14:15:32.616-08:002011-01-27T14:15:32.616-08:00Well, I do think that Nina stabbed Beth. I'm n...Well, I do think that Nina stabbed Beth. I'm not sure there is a way to really know for sure if she did, but after watching the film, it's hard for me to think she didn't.<br /><br />I have to watch this a second time. I'm interested in trying to watch scenes with the open mind that Nina is an unstable eyewitness. I think back to the gala scene when Beth walks away disappointed. I believe you see that Nina has drank some of her champagne and appears confused that she did. What else did she imagine from that scene?Carlos Matthews Hernandezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04844149114686947104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-1701745553097269412011-01-26T03:28:39.378-08:002011-01-26T03:28:39.378-08:00I think the stabbing of Beth scene is an important...I think the stabbing of Beth scene is an important step on the way to Nina stabbing Lilly with the mirror shard. Beth appears to stab herself with the file; Nina runs away only to realise she is holding the bloody file. Was it her that stabbed Beth? We've been primed to take on board the possibility that Nina is now so unhinged that she might be capable of violence. It ratchets up our concern for the character. Foreshadowing in films is an interesting area for discussion. Any takers.Amanda Nolanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03801832405441510546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-20311127436812493652011-01-24T21:54:57.246-08:002011-01-24T21:54:57.246-08:00Richard - Thanks for the link. Unfortunately I pr...Richard - Thanks for the link. Unfortunately I probably won't get a chance to read it before the rest of the posts in this series go live.The Bitter Script Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16575166527272639709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-2662045471442691612011-01-24T12:40:09.155-08:002011-01-24T12:40:09.155-08:00Creative Screenwriting has a podcast with Andres H...Creative Screenwriting has a podcast with Andres Heinz and co-writer Mark Heyman about Black Swan.<br /><br />In it they discuss the film's earliest drafts. It was a completely different film to the one it became; and the same goes for the role and character of Lily.<br /><br />Here's the podcast's URL: http://feeds.feedburner.com/CreativeScreenwritingMagazine<br /><br />"In the film I was of the definite opinion Lily existed but Nina imagined some of their encounters."<br />That is how the film was written. Lily is real, but Nina was coming undone mentally and imagined some of her encounters with her.Richard Cosgrovehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00843305491000273746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-63383462968815182462011-01-24T12:10:12.039-08:002011-01-24T12:10:12.039-08:00Thanks for posting this, it’s a really interesting...Thanks for posting this, it’s a really interesting article. <br /><br />I caught Black Swan yesterday and was quite disappointed as I actually preferred Heyman's version of the story. I thought a lot of the nuances of this draft had been abandoned in favour of more standard horror tropes. <br /><br />I shared your interpretation from reading the screenplay that Lily didn't really exist because like you said she appears after Nina is told to find her Black Swan. In the film I was of the definite opinion Lily existed but Nina imagined some of their encounters. <br /><br />I think by clarifying that Lily is real adds more conflict to the story in an All About Eve kind of way as it adds to Nina's paranoia and fear that she's going to lose the role. Imaginary Lily would add nothing more to the story other than hammering home that Nina really is losing her mind.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com