This short film tells its story through a narrator, who brings the audience into the story world with his words, gestures, and expressions. He is not just a voice-over, but also a character who interacts with the others and influences the story. This narration style gives the short film a theatrical and literary flair, and keeps the audience engaged with the plot. Unlike conventional films, this film can be seen as a story that can be read as well as watched.
Symmetry is a signature style of Wes Anderson, who uses it to create a balanced and orderly visual effect. In The Swan, there are many shots that are perfectly symmetrical, such as:
- The opening shot, where the narrator stands on a stage that has identical props and lights on each side.
- The shot where the narrator walks into a scene that has matching trees and flowers on each side.
These symmetrical shots are beautiful, but they also create a sense of discomfort and irony for the audience, as if they are trapped in the story world.