The Portrayal of OCD in Darren Aronofsky's 'Black Swan'

Nina is a fascinating and nuanced portrayal of living with OCD in times of massive stress. It is not just about perfection, but about punishment and constant anxiety. While her mental health is sensationalized for shocking and dazzling visuals, the quieter moments of solitude highlight the truth of OCD presented in Black Swan.

Funny story, I saw Black Swan in theaters and there was an older couple in the row in front of me. They exchanged whispers every few minutes, and then maybe 20 minutes into the film, walked out. I’m fairly certain from the few words I could make out that they thought they had bought tickets to a new version of Swan Lake.

Needless to say, that is not what Black Swan was, but it was easily my favorite movie of that year, and may be my favorite Darren Aronofsky (who has also done Pi, Requiem for a Dream, The Wrestler, The Fountain, and Mother).