An Oscar nominee for Best Documentary, this exhilarating film from German director Wim Wenders celebrates legendary choreographer Pina Bausch. For nearly 10 years, Wenders worked on the concept with Bausch and the Ensemble of the Tanztheater Wuppertal. Sadly, Bausch suddenly and unexpectedly died on June 30, 2009, at age 68, just days before film production was scheduled to begin. After a period of mourning and extensive re-evaluation, Wenders decided to turn his focus on Bausch's uniquely innovative and highly stylized choreography. Featured among the composed dance selections here are Café Muller, Le Sacre du Printemps, Vollmond, and Kontakthof—Bausch's four signature pieces, which had already been prepared for filming before her untimely demise, along with archival footage of Bausch at work. What's intriguing is her creative process: Bausch would pose questions, like a psychotherapist, and her graceful, multinational dancers would answer—not in words, but with improvised gestures, movement, and body language, expressing their intimate emotions and remembered experiences. Following her example, Wenders asked each of Bausch's distinctive dancers to convey their personal memories of Pina in solo performances, filming them in and around Wuppertal and in the countryside of Bergisches Land. Unfortunately, Wenders' Pina doesn't include personal or background information as unidentified dancers pay tribute to their leader (who departed to “dance in the clouds”) in reverent voiceovers and talking head interviews, but as a performance documentary, this one shines. Highly recommendedRecommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by director Wim Winders, a “making-of” featurette (46 min.), an interview with Wenders (23 min.), deleted scenes (40 min.), behind-the-scenes footage (9 min.), a trailer, and a booklet featuring an essay by novelist Siri Hustvedt, reprinted pieces by Wenders and subject Pina Bausch, a guide to the dances, and dancer portraits. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is a bonus 3D version of the film. Bottom line: a fine extras package for this visually stunning Oscar-nominated doc.] (S. Granger)
Pina
Criterion,103 min., in German, English, Russian, French, Italian, Slovenian, Spanish, Portuguese & Korean w/English subtitles, PG, DVD: $29.95, Blu-ray: $44.95, Jan. 22 Volume 28, Issue 1
Pina
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