Fat Dude Digs Flicks

PINA (2011) - Quick Thoughts

(written and directed by Wim Wenders)

Watched this film today at home. Here’s an admission I will make: perhaps seeing it in 3D in a theater as it was intended to be seen would have made it more enjoyable. As it stands, I didn’t care for this one at all. Part recording of a performance art dance showcase, part tribute to choreographer Pina Bausch, all bizarre, the film moves from sequence to sequence with minimal discussion. I understand that dance is the language of the film, but with such strange dance sequences, it is a tough language to grasp. The tribute scenes are either archive footage of Pina Bausch teaching or dancing, or dancers making odd facial expressions at the camera while their own voice plays in voiceover. The film has been on numerous “best of” lists and is an Oscar nominee for best documentary. Sometimes, as painful as it may be, I just have to confess when I don’t see what they do. The appeal and acclaim for this and TREE OF LIFE are absolute mysteries to me.

That’s not to say that this movie is not without its moments. A few of the dancers are so precise with their movements and so exceptional with their control, it is hard not to enjoy certain sequences. However, these sequences are all separated by long moments of tedious dances and awkward stares into the camera.

For my money, RIZE is still one of the best dance documentaries in existence. Passion and power caught on camera pieced together brilliantly. PINA is a stuffier version of that, but really lacking something.

Not for me.

** out of 5.