With each film, Aronofsky continues to deliver, and “Black Swan” only further ups the ante. Within the competitive and physically abusive world of professional ballet, Aronofsky poses a constructed reality that just may be more truthful than that which is considered real outside of the frame.

It wasn’t just a performance; it was a story about humanity told through dance and every type of percussive instrument I’ve ever seen, and at least a few I’ve never seen. Each piece had a name that provided some clues to its meaning, though like any good art, it made each person in the audience feel something unique and personal.