Nina (Natalie Portman) successfully performs the Swan Lake role. She delivers a powerful and captivating performance, achieving the perfection she and her director, Thomas (Vincent Cassel), craved.
But Nina's mental state deteriorates drastically. She begins to exhibit signs of psychosis, hallucinating and exhibiting violent and erratic behavior. The film suggests these are the results of her obsessive pursuit of perfection and the pressure of the role.
The final scene is pivotal. Nina is shown in her dressing room, having been praised for her performance. She appears content, almost triumphant. However, she then starts to bleed heavily from her nose and mouth, suggesting a possible internal hemorrhage. The camera zooms in on her reflection in the mirror, where she is now seen with a split, "black swan" look, mirroring the duality of the character she played.
The film ends without a clear explanation. The final shot is Nina's face, with the blood staining her white swan makeup. This leaves the audience wondering if she's dead, if she's finally achieved true "black swan" transformation, or if she's simply succumbing to mental illness.
Interpretations:
* Nina is dead: This is the most straightforward interpretation, with the bleeding being fatal. This would be a tragic ending, highlighting the destructive power of obsession and the price of artistic perfection.
* Nina is the black swan: This interpretation suggests Nina has achieved the ultimate fusion with the dark side, but at a great cost. The bleeding could symbolize the violent transformation, or perhaps a physical manifestation of her internal struggle.
* Nina is mentally unstable: This interpretation focuses on the mental deterioration, suggesting that Nina has lost touch with reality and her true self, becoming consumed by the character. The bleeding could symbolize the breakdown of her psyche.
Ultimately, the ending is designed to be open-ended, inviting the audience to contemplate the consequences of Nina's journey and the nature of artistic obsession. It leaves a lasting impact, prompting reflection on the blurred lines between reality and fantasy, sanity and madness, and the true price of achieving one's dream.