Visionary director Wim Wenders celebrates the work of choreographer Pina Baush. The result: two iconic artists are brought together to create a thing of absolute beauty. This hypnotic documentary displays the incredible skill of both individuals, and left me so punch-drunk that, far from wanting to dance, I just wanted to stay in my seat. And maybe watch it again.
Centred around four of Bausch’s most celebrated pieces, the dances receive little or no context, and only two are even named. But as sleepwalking couples navigate through a maze of tables and chairs in Café Müller; men and women stomp towards each other in the thrilling The Rite Of Spring; and couples throw and catch each other with breathtaking ease, their meaning is clear, and the tumultuous relationship between the sexes is perfectly evoked in all its yearning glory.
Mixing in-studio ensemble dances with solo and duet pieces performed in stunning outside locations such as cliff tops, traffic intersections and elevated monorail platforms, each dance is uniquely evocative in both tone and setting. Visually, Pina is simply stunning. Using the 3D format in its simplest form, Wenders eschews gimmicks, instead utilising the effect to heighten the theatrical immediacy of the dances, and lend them a beautifully sharp yet painterly effect.
Despite planning this collaboration with Wenders for years, Bausch tragically died mere days before filming. So it’s all the more disappointing that the narrated tributes to her prove to be the weakest strand of Pina. Speaking in reverential tones, the interviewed dancers reveal nothing more than that Bausch was hugely talented, highly respected and sorely missed. Her character and career aren’t sufficiently represented to satisfy fans, while dance neophytes will be left uninformed, impatient to see the next routine.
But luckily the routines are numerous, and all equally beautiful. Watch, and be enthralled. Just maybe keep your own dancing on the inside.