While Nina's dedication could be seen as admirable, it consumes her to the point of destruction. The message may be to find balance, that nothing is worth losing yourself -- not even what appears to be your dream come true. Viewers may also find themselves thinking about the concept that insanity can feed good art -- but is it necessary to make good art?

Characters torture themselves mentally and physically. A character purges and punishes her body with grueling workouts; she also cuts herself. When her mind starts to fall apart, she becomes delusional, sure that her skin is turning reptilian and that there are sharp objects oozing out of her wounds. She throws objects, rips drawings, screams. The movie shows the brutal aspects of ballet, including the injuries -- especially bleeding toenails, mangled feet, and achy bones. A woman is shown stabbing another with a shard of glass; the wound festers.

A woman masturbates; she’s clothed, but it’s clearly implied. A woman performs a sex act on another woman (viewers don’t see body parts, but there’s no mistaking what position they’re in). A woman makes out with a bunch of men in a drugged haze. A man touches a woman’s genitals while he’s teaching her some dance steps; he also forces her to kiss him. Bare breasts are flashed.

Fairly frequent swearing, including "f--k," "s--t," "pr-ck," "d--k," "p---y," "ass," "oh my God," and "damn."

Not applicable

Two young women get drunk at a nightclub. They also pop pills. Another woman, embittered because she has been replaced, causes a scene after getting drunk.