I love Pina Blu ray Combo Criterion Collection
Pina - a film by Wim Wenders
WOW!! First, let me say I am not a modern dance aficionado, but after viewing this film (twice already, and in 3D to boot!), I feel a whole new appreciation for modern dance, and especially the works of Pina Bausch and her amazing dance company!
This particular film by Wim Wenders blew me away! It was beautiful, often heartbreakingly so, and occasionally even funny and whimsical. Not only has Wim Wenders captured the beauty of modern dance through the medium of film, but he has hugely enhanced the experience by successfully and beautifully filming it in 3D!
I didn't really get into the dances portrayed in the film immediately, but after a half hour or so, I was hooked, and had to keep watching to the end. I decided to view it a second time with the director's commentary...and that really cinched the film for me. Wim Wenders does an excellent job with his rather soft, even somewhat monotone voice, heavy with German accent. He offers insight into most of the dances (extremely helpful for me!) and the development of the film, and via the commentary we learn why the film contains little information about Pina Bausch and only excerpts of Pina's wonderful works. It just so happens that of the two "rules" Pina and Wim agreed to as part of their collaboration, one was that Pina wanted the film to NOT be biographical. The other was that she wanted never to be interviewed.
The dancers are terrific! Such beautiful arms and deep expressiveness in each and every dancer, male and female, younger and older alike. Of the 24 or 25 dancers in her company, most appear to be quite "seasoned" (meaning around 50 years old, or perhaps even older!), adding (I believe) a very comforting and satisfying depth to the artistic interpretations.
There are even two brief clips of Pina herself dancing many years earlier, and she is mesmerizing in both short excerpts!
The 3D effect is fabulous, especially in the outdoor scenes!
English subtitles are provided but limited to sections where translation is necessary, and not available when dialogue (of which there is little anyway!) is in English. The commentary is in English, so no subtitles there.
I viewed the "making of" section, accompanied with commentary by Wim Wenders (not subtitled). It is about 45 minutes long with very helpful insight into the intricacies of filming "Pina," especially in 3D. I had no idea how very complicated it is to film in 3D!! Something else wonderful we benefit from by viewing the "making of" section is more dance excerpts of Pina's works, many of which are not included in the film. We also get to see Wim Wenders in action...he appears to be a quiet spoken, patient man, filled with a huge amount of gracious appreciation for the dancers, his film crew, Pina's works, and of course for Pina herself!
The one technical failing in the DVD itself is that to view the deleted scenes (all 14 of which are wonderfully included in 3D, and which you would do yourself a HUGE favor by viewing!!), is that Criterion did NOT make it possible to "view all." Instead, one must cue up each and every one of them individually, PLUS cue up the audio separately for each to hear Wim's optional commentary on all of them (also a "must hear")!! Doing so means adding a considerable amount of extra time to see and hear each deleted scene, but they are ALL worth viewing regardless!
If you appreciate fine film making, wonderful modern dancing , and the potential to be moved to tears by the dancing and the sheer emotion of the music, treat yourself to this beautiful film. Wim Wenders and Pina's dance company have presented it as a tribute to Pina, as Pina died before it was completed.
I've never been entirely convinced by Wim Wenders as a narrative film director-- his talents have always been more situated in the realm of conceptual art than that of the storyteller. Here he gets a chance to apply his conceptual art strengths to one of the few great artists of our time, Pina Bausch. The results are often startling, enthralling, and affirmative.
ReplyDeleteThe opening excerpt from Bausch's RITE OF SPRING ranks as one of the greatest pieces of filmmaking I've ever seen. There is no doubt that Wenders has found the best possible use for 3D. To be frank, I would have preferred to see the entire performance rather than the documentary which enfolds it, but ideally we can have both (hint to distributors: there are at least five DVDs to be gleaned from the various dances here. I'd buy all of them!!)
The central section of the film includes excerpts from Bausch's more cerebral work, and it is here that perhaps the film is less effective. While the work itself is absolutely fascinating, the series of tableaux which Wenders constructs breaks the spell essential to fully entering Bausch's world. On the other hand, Wenders does create some extraordinary moments possible only through film-- by, for example, intercutting between dancers of various ages-- thus participating in the creative process and making the film itself a document keeping Bausch alive.
Meanwhile, we get- a la "A Chorus Line," the dancers themselves, introduced in close ups Avedon would have been proud of. This device is interesting, if not, perhaps, in the end, terribly well integrated. Threading through the film as a leitmotif we get a processional that reminded me of the end of 8 1/2 (A.O. Scott cites "The Seventh Seal," which also suggested itself to me). It works (we are reassured that the stream of energy Bausch left behind remains) but these cinematic gestures don't approach the brilliance of the work celebrated by the film itself (which is just as it should be, I suppose).
All in all, not one of the greatest documentaries of all time, but absolutely essential, nonetheless. Magnificent!
It scares me to think that I might have gone though life without knowing about this choreographer, and without having seen this movie, but for the serendipity of hearing an interview on NPR with the director, Wim Wenders. I am not a dance fanatic of any sort, but sometimes art connects in the way that cannot be ignored, and it happens here. This tribute to Pina Bausch captures the compact power and connection to the elements of this German choreographer whose creative use of space is incredible. Wim most effectively portrays Pina's voice, bringing us up close and personal, to dances on the stage, and in the "real world" settings from metro stations to quarries. Interspersed with the dances, are mini-interviews with dancers who reveal the effect of this choreographer on her international cast, not with spoken words, but with the lines and expressions on their faces reminding us that dance is a language in itself (their actual words are in captions below them). The dancers' faces and bodies are those of ordinary people doing extraordinary things with incredible introspection as they are challenged by Pina to "Dance, Dance, otherwise [they] are lost." The surprises start with the opening number, where the dance is performed on a stage covered thickly in dirt which soon is also attached to the sweat lines of the dancers. In addition to capturing the art of the dance by this choreographer, the cinematography itself is fantastic in its own right. I could/will watch it again just to see the textures, lines and background motion, Wim uses for the movie. Don't you miss this movie before you leave/meld into this planet.
ReplyDeleteI saw the 3-D version in the movie theater and thoroughly enjoyed it enough to risk buying the dvd (0 zone rated). Sadly, 0 zone rating does not mean it will play on some or older USA machines; the disc (2d) will only play PAL compliant machines. I decided to buy a non-region specific dvd player. This disc works perfectly and the images as haunting as when I saw it in a movie theatre. Note: this particular disc is subtitled in Italian with the original sound track and voice track as recorded (English, French, etc.). This review is an update and change from my original review
ReplyDeleteThe other reviews are not talking about the official Criterion blu ray release, so I am putting in a review because I preordered this and have the Criterion release of the 3D and regular blu rays.
ReplyDeleteThe 3D transfer is stunning, I have a number of other 3D releases, but this is one of the best I have seen. I also saw this in the theater and I almost feel I get the 3D effect better from a home theater system than what I saw in the theater.
In addition to the film, there is a 45 Making of Pina documentary, for once available in 3D also. There are some deleted segments of dances that are not in the film that run I believe about 30 minutes that you will want to see if you were a fan of the film or Bausch's work. They are also included as 3D and regular versions.
Another supplement is a promotional interview by Wim Wenders, which is 22 minutes long. If you want background of the making of this film, it is a good look into his mindset and motivations for what he put on screen.
Criterion has done itself proud in it's first 3D release because once again, they have pushed the bar so high that probably only they will be able to compete with this title.
Stunning. Transfixing.
ReplyDelete"Pina" joins "Avatar" and "The Creature from the Black Lagoon" on the (very) short list of 3-D movies that really need to be seen in 3-D. That the dances are so magnificent makes this a must see for anyone with even a vague interest in dance.
An amazing technical and emotional accomplishment.
"Pina" (106 min.) is a thrilling documentary about/celebration of choreographer Pina Bausch's work. It is important to note that Bausch herself was involved in the preparations of this movie, but she passed away just before shooting beagan after a short but devastating bout with cancer. Director Wim Wenders halted the production, but the dancers of the Wuppertal Tanztheatre convinced him to carry on and to make the movie as a tribute to Bausch. And that it certainly is.
ReplyDeleteThe movie showcases 4 major pieces by Bausch, starting with The Rite of Spring, in which the dancers perform on a thick layer of dark sand. The other pieces are Cafe Mueller, Kontakthoff, and Vollmond. The latter is truly remarkable: there is a huge rock on the stage, and a continuous waterfall onto the stage, which eventually gets flooded for the most part. The dancers splish and splash their way to, through and onto it and it is an incredible visual experience. A number of scenes are also filmed in and around Wuppertal, including on the Wuppertal Schwebebahn (the "hanging monorail") as well as a number of industrial sites that are visually very powerful. The documentary includes short interviews with various company dancers on how Pina influenced them. Sadly, the are only snippets of old footage of Pina Bausch herself.
I saw this in the theatre in 3D and while the 3D was good, I will say that the 3D aspect is not essential to appreciate this movie for what it is: a love note to modern ballet and to Pina Bausch. If you have any interest in ballet, you truly do not want to miss out on this movie. "Pina" was nominated for an Oscar for best documentary, and it is easy to see why. Highly, highly recommended!