PINA

By La Crítica New York City on December 27, 2011 • ( 1 )

WHEN IN DOUBT, JUST DANCE IT OUT!

Xavier

This soaring documentary about Pina Bausch is a dance piece itself. Shot in 3-D it uses its effects to its advantage. The 3-D concept makes you feel you’re part of the dance, intertwining with the dancers and expressing one’s emotions with movements. It’s more of a dedication to Pina then being about her. The documentary’s interviews have very little dialogue between the dancers that worked with Pina in the past 20 years. But some of these lines are memorable such as, “you need to be crazier.” That was an advice given by Pina to one of her dancers, when they asked how could they be a better dancer.

The film starts off with a topless woman in her underwear reciting all four seasons, creating a gesture that represents each season. Men and women dressed in suits and gowns come onto the stage forming a moving silhouette performing these gestures with joyful expression on their faces. We get to see some of Pina most famous works in the film such as Café Muller. The stage is brimful with chairs and tables, which the dancers interact with, creating time and space. We also get an up and close personal look at Rite of Spring, another famous work of Pina where the stage is covered in soil.

By watching the movements of these dancers, you get a clue to the mysterious inner being of Pina Bausch. Its as if she is soaring in the air through out this entire documentary. Leaving a part of her self inside these dancers. Their bland looks in the interview tell all or a lot how Pina influence their lives. Pina passed away in 2009, just two days before shooting. Wenders fulfilled well and worthy tribute to the late Pina Bausch.