How Wim Wenders used 3D technology to immortalize the ephemeral art of dance
In short: When choreographer Pina Bausch died unexpectedly in 2009, director Wim Wenders abandoned their planned documentary. The dancers of Tanztheater Wuppertal eventually persuaded him to continue, resulting in a 2011 film that serves as both a memorial and a technical triumph, capturing the fleeting nature of movement through immersive 3D cinematography.
The film is structured around four iconic works choreographed by Bausch: The Rite of Spring, Café Müller, Kontakthof, and Vollmond. Wenders filmed these pieces with the Tanztheater Wuppertal company shortly after Bausch's passing, following rehearsals she had overseen. To expand the scope beyond the stage, the documentary features solo and duet performances set in various outdoor locations across Wuppertal, including the city's famous suspension railway. These sequences are interspersed with archival footage of Bausch and voice-over reflections from her dancers.
A standout segment features Kontakthof, a piece Wenders filmed with three distinct generations of performers: the original company, senior citizens, and teenagers. By cutting between these groups as they perform identical choreography, the film highlights the universality of Bausch's vision. Other pieces utilize striking physical environments, such as a stage covered in peat for The Rite of Spring or a partially flooded set featuring a large rock for Vollmond. The entire project is bookended by a simple, seasonal hand-choreography performed by the dancers in a theater and atop the Haniel slag heap.
The documentary received widespread critical acclaim, holding a 95% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an 83/100 score on Metacritic. Critics praised the film as a successful attempt to preserve a notoriously perishable art form. During the 84th Academy Awards season, the film earned a nomination for Best Documentary Feature. It was also Germany's selection for the Best Foreign Language Film category, reaching the nine-film shortlist in January 2012. Had it secured nominations in both categories, it would have achieved a historic first for the Academy Awards.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Pina (film)
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