By REBECCA LENZINI
Contributor, SNSPost
Founder, SeriousMovieLover.com

PINA (2011/ In Theaters) With this film, Wim Wenders (Wings of Desire, Buena Vista Social Club) delivers a fascinating and moving 3D tribute to the late choreographer and dancer Pina Bausch. The documentary had been planned for many years when Bausch died suddenly of cancer at the age of 68–just before filming was to start. Wenders continued on and created his “Film for Pina Bausch” using clips of actual performances, intercut with new interpretations and moving tributes danced and spoken by members of her company. If you, like me, are unfamiliar with the work of Pina, here are a few things to know before you buy your ticket to this film. First, this is modern dance in the fullest sense, with a typical Germanic bent for the avant-garde. For example, the two most famous of Pina’s works are shown: her interpretation of the Rite of Spring (1975) performed on a stage filled with dirt, and Café Müller (1978), in which dancers stumble around the stage crashing into tables and chairs in a stark space. Second, there is no real storyline here—Wenders was not out to tell us Pina’s story; rather, we are watching the results of her work over 40 years and more importantly her influence over the members of her company. The modern dance performances and re-interpretations are shown to us several ways, including in the studio of today, as recorded originally, or in naturalistic settings (i.e. on the subway, in gardens, in streets, etc.). Finally, just as a warning, there are some rather disturbing themes which emerge in the dance pieces particularly involving interactions between women and men—often with women in what appear to be highly subservient positions. Not a film for everyone, but I found it well worth the price of admission, even with the 3D up-charge.

Grade: A-

NOTE: This film is up for a 2012 Oscar for Best Documentary Feature; it won that same category at the German Film Awards in 2011.

P.S.  The dance scenes in Pedro Almodovar’s Talk to Her are Pina’s. Who knew?