Constructing more of an emotional atmosphere than a historical record, this poetic biography is composed in the same expressive tones-the warm ochers, luminous golds, and subdued blues-as the paintings of the great Georgian Primitive artist Niko Pirosmanishvili. The story takes place in Tiflis, where Pirosmani survives by painting his simple yet joyful pictures for the local taverns and cafes, asking only drink and food as his meager compensation. He is misunderstood by the townsfolk, yet his own reclusive manner heightens the neglect he suffers. In one remarkable episode, Pirosmani is asked by the local dignitaries to say a few words-almost mute, he sketches a teahouse filled with art instead. Avtandil Varazi, who plays Pirosmani, seems to fathom the understated currents of this self-taught artist, perhaps because he too is a painter. Epitomizing the particularities of Georgian culture in paintings that are naive yet insightful, the canvases themselves are still the surest doorway to Pirosmani's private world.-Steve Seid