12:30 Something else I always found interesting about the nail-clipping is that Erica uses scissors instead of nail clippers to cut Nina’s nails, which in my experience is usually done with babies. And later on, Erica covers her hands with socks, again, much like a baby. Her infantilization of Nina was one of the creepiest things to me when I watched the movie; thank you for making such an insightful video!

The scene where Nina is desperately trying to get her door closed before her mom can come in really frightened me when I first saw it. The way her mom stands in the doorway wearing that lacy nightgown and Nina feigns a smile. Absolutely sinister and I knew what it meant right away. So many people did not pick up on that part and I’m glad you’re saying something about this now!

Nina putting the hamper in front of the bathroom door because her mom would likely just burst in without her consent anyway if Nina said no or took too long to open the door for her...

Considering all the swan and bird theming, it’s not hard to see Erika clipping Nina’s nails with scissors, refusing to let her do it herself even if she hurts her in the process, as clipping her wings. Trying to keep her trapped and unable to fly away.

Honestly as someone with an 'Erica' as a mom, all these boundary crossing behaviors, while never being explicit sa, are still really damaging and deliberate. They are definitely meant to control a girls sexuality by associating your body, not with yourself and your own pleasure, but with your parent, because they see sexuality and a potential partner as a threat to their own control

You’re so on point. It’s terrifying. Anyone who experienced csa could see themselves in Nina. She’s shifty. Flinches at physical touch. Infantilizes herself to stay safe from advances. Constantly people pleases. Her director was abusing her and it didn’t take much for her to go into a fawn response because she’s used to this invasive behavior. She sees her disgust with sexuality as a personal flaw bc she’s been told to engage in it way before she could form her own concept. This role as the White and Black Swans simply woke up the repressed somatic memories and caused her to spiral to escape it. Anyone saying otherwise is ignorant to what csa really looks like.

In the “sweetie, are you ready for me?” part, I remember feeling deeply uncomfortable when I saw Erica enter the room. The way she is dressed in that lacy nightgown with the deep V neckline, the way her hair is down and almost artfully messy, and the framing of her in the doorway all come together to make it feel like a scene where a woman is coming in to seduce her lover. All while knowing that she is entering her daughter’s room. Seeing this scene framed in a childlike bedroom is so uncomfortable.

Wonderful, in-depth, and respectful breakdown of this fascinating film. Got a subscribe from me! Can't wait to see more!

Now that I'm seeing this video, it reminds me a lot of Jennette McCurdy's relationship with her mother. A lot of boundary-breaking and abusive behavior including in the sexual sphere (Jennette's mother monitored her showering even into her teens). Taking control of someone's bodily care when they are completely capable of doing it (e.g. trimming nails like in the movie) really puts someone in a position of power while emphasizing that the other person is "helpless".

I have a very controlling mother (no sexual undertones, but most of the other meddling ways shown in the movie) and we watched black swan together shortly after it came out. One of her takeaways from the movie was being sympathetic to Nina’s mom because “their mother/daughter relationship was destroyed by the end and Nina was so mean to her own mother.” I was truly speechless that was a main aspect that stuck out to her lol.

You're so right about the rash. I think Nina scratches herself while she is being SA'd to try to cope, but she blocks out the SA and the only manifestation we see is the scratches that appear as if out of nowhere. The mother being angry about her doing it is because it's evidence, and also she blames Nina for being hurt by the abuse her mother inflicts on her

The one scene where Nina licks the cake icing off of her moms finger made me SO violently uncomfortable and it made me notice how weirdly obsessed and possibly predatory she is to Nina Im so glad there are other ppl talking abt it

I have long thought this as well. btw Tomas was her boss, not a teacher. they are professional dancers in a company, not students. nevertheless, she was abused by both him and her mother

The s.x scene with lily, I thought it was really her mother doing that to her and she just blocked it out and saw lily instead. But then I was like nah that is too much and then I said it is just her imagination. But now im glad you made a video on it. And the mother sitting on the couch looking guilty the day after not giving eye contact to nina, just makes it look like this theory is real 😮

i was shocked when its revealed that nina is 28 in the movie. 28! with the way her mother treats her like a baby and everything i thought she was at least 18 or 19.

This is a triggering and truthful video about the Erica/Nina, mother/daughter relationship. When a mother falls to love her daughter she resorts to control. It’s classic narcissistic behavior.

13:41 the scene with the cake, first of all who buys a cake meant for a 30 person birthday party for two people. But also im sure Nina was often criticized for food choices, constant haranguing about not getting fat so she does what is expected, not too big a piece then her mom gets upsey because she wont celebrate and enjoy this big slice of gross cake. I suspect no matter how she responded it would have been the wrong response. Seems like that kind of mom

I personally think it was emotional incest and but I’ve never seen someone talk about this topic so thank you for this video

Even if there was no overt incest, the covert incest is damaging enough and can affect the victim’s sexuality even if a hand was never placed on them.

I really like the breakdown and attention to the subtlety. I feel very bad for Nina

25:55 a note here: we know lily is meant to be seen as the classical representation of odile (the black swan), the seducer and the sexual woman. rothbarth is also canonically her father in the ballet. this was the confirmation for me that the movie is about incestous csa, it seemed like the biggest hint since we are lead to see lily as the black swan to nina's white swan. i love this movie, great video!! <3

I watched this movie alone when I was probably 15. Upon seeing the first interaction between Nina and her mother I said aloud to myself, “Her mom is doing something bad to her.”

Thanks for making this.