NIJINSKY (1980)

WIDESCREEN

Nijinsky is a fascinating film that chronicles the lives, the loves, and the madness of ballet's legendary and mercurial star Vaslav Nijinsky (George de la Pena). Onstage, Nijinsky, the most celebrated dancer of the early 20th century, was in flawless control. Offstage, he was in turmoil, torn between the beautiful ballerina he married and the domineering mentor he loved. Alan Bates plays Sergei Diaghilev, Nijinsky's mentor and lover who's the impresario and founder of Ballets Russes. The increasing tension between these powerful egos, exacerbated by homosexual desire and jealousy, becomes triangular when the young ballerina Romola de Pulsky (Leslie Browne) determinedly attempts to draw the mentally unstable Nijinsky away from Diaghilev. Jeremy Irons made his film debut as a choreographer for the ballet company. Directed by Herbert Ross (The Turning Point).