Insight For those who love real art, a crafted film, a collage of images that are spellbinding, "The Diaries of Vaslav Nijinsky" will prove to be a real treat. For the uninitiated the opposite may be said. They may not be prepared for a kaliedescope of rampant images or a long monologue by Sir Derek Jacobi. But for those who truly can appreciate this "genre" of film, "The Diaries of Vaslav Nijinsky" will unlock a treasure trove of joyous experience and celebration for the artist Vaslav Nijinsky. Nijinsky's latter life was spent in an asylum and robbed the world of a great talent but thankfully his diary "Cashiers" [written in 1919] allows us to journey into the mind of the artist during a most traumatic period of his life. This film, by Paul Cox, is beautifully choreographed, with dance and images that leap from the screen with as much life as Vaslav Nijinsky did as he danced in character through Petrouchka, the Faun, the Blue God, the Golden Slave during his career. Sir Derek reads directly from Vaslav's diary and the tones, expressions and timbre of his voice brings another life to what is, for those who love the arts, an all too brief look at Nijinsky's life in a period when he was at least, able to live it. The Story "The Diaries of Vaslav Nijinsky" was filmed on location in Adelaide, Russia, Spain, Holland and Paris. It is a film that takes all aspects revealed in his diary and recreates them onscreen. Nijinsky was a man of many disguises and director, writer, producer Paul Cox has drawn much from his past experience in Cinema to put together a film that contains not one Nijinsky but many. "There are at least 25 Nijinskies in the film sometimes male, sometimes female. As he was a man of many disguises, and so many characters came out through the photos left behind, I thought you can't have just one person playing Nijinsky." "The Diaries of Vaslav Nijinsky" is a journey through the known moments of a man facing all his demons, delusions, self persecution and at time torment. "The Diaries of Vaslav Nijinsky" is also a tribute to dance. The Verdict "For those who appreciate art in all its form, "The Diaries of Vaslav Nijinsky" is a spectacle as beautiful as an old master canvas. Director Paul Cox has woven on the screen a tapestry of images to reconstruct beautifuly, the life of a man in torment, confronted with unimaginable demons that eventually took his talents from him and the world. The images we are treated to are bold, appealing and challenging. A refreshing and challenging experience." The Cast

Delia Silvan Chris Haywood Hans Sonneveld Oliver Streeton Jillian Smith Kevin Lucas David Gallasch Aanya Whitehead Gabriella Smart Lisa Heaven Patricia Cellier Kyra Cox Anandine Merino

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Romola Oscar Doctor Psychiatrist Emilia Diaghilev Critic Maid Piano Player Prostitute Prostitute Little Kyra Little Kyra

Directed by Paul Cox Run Time 95 minutes RATED M [AUST] ©2002 - Illumination Films - All Rights Reserved ©2002 - The Movie Pages - All Rights Reserved