Nijinsky: The Diaries of Vaslav Nijinsky

You don't need to have seen a lot of art films to love The Diaries of Vaslav Nijinsky. All it takes is compassionate curiosity and perhaps some lingering memory of the world as a child experiences it.

A treat for balletomanes, this 2001 feature may be too precious for others.

Fans of Nijinsky will savor every minute of Cox's work. Those unfamiliar with Nijinsky but who are curious enough to see this film may find themselves frustrated by its nontraditional documentary style.

Watching Paul Cox's impressionistic film based on the diaries of that legendary dancer and choreographer, it is impossible not to contemplate with a shudder the shadowy line between art, ecstasy and psychosis.

Those who are only mildly curious, I fear, will be put to sleep or bewildered by the artsy and often pointless visuals.

Unfortunately, the visuals are not compelling enough on their own to hold our interest, and a highly mannered Derek Jacobi is all wrong as the narrative voice of Nijinsky.

A real snooze.