Afternoon of Faun, Tanaquil Le Clerq - A Disappointing Yawn

It sounds like a tragic novel; famous ballerina struck down at the height of her career by polio.  Tragically, it is the true life story of prima ballerina Tanaquil Le Clerq, wife of George Balanchine and muse to Jerome Robbins.  Robbins was infatuated with Tanaquil "Tanny" and choreographed Afternoon of a Faun specifically for her.  Balanchine 1st met Tanny as a 14 yr. old ballet student in the hallway where she had been sent out from her classroom.  There is exquisite footage of Tanny's transcendent dancing.  The film also benefits from wonderful photos of Balanchine, Robbins, & Tanny.   Jacques d'Amboise, a Kennedy Honor recipient who partnered with Tanny, provided very insightful commentaries on Tanny's talents as well as her relationships with Balanchine & Robbins.  Letters between Tanny & Robbins alluded to an intense but unrequitted love between them.  Unfortunately, the main narration for the doc. came from Balanchine's long time assistant which was skittish and detached.  This incredible life was presented with little emotional impact.  When stricken with polio, Tanny was placed in an artificial lung and not expected to survive. Polio left her paralyzed and adrift.  Jacques addressed every dancer's anguish, "If I'm not a dancer, who am I?"  Balanchine's marriage to Tanny withered while his choreography continued to reach exceptional heights.  Sadly, the artistic parts to this film do not combine to create a masterpiece and the film falls flat.