Saturday, March 10, 2012

Artist alert: stimulating documentary "Pina," the story of choreographer Pina Bausch, throws modern dance at the screen and into the air; see it at RFC

Pina / Wim Wenders  by trudeau
Pina / Wim Wenders , a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

In "Cafe Muller" the elegantly-dressed dancers enjoying the inviting room are marvelously unhinged people. As a comely woman nervously paces across the room, a man in a well-cut suit pulls chairs and tables out of her way with alacrity and alarm.

Thus it is in the best modern dance, as choreographers such as Pina Bausch explore our psyches through wordless movement.

German moviemaker Wim Wenders won an Academy Award nomination for Pina, a film of relentless rising and falling action. Pina is set both on stages and in the entrancing town of Wuppertal, DE.

The dances are shocking and amusing, often simultaneously. Originality, grinding energy, precision, mystery; Pina is a phenomenal whirl.

Highly recommended.
At Robinson Film Center. Alas, not in 3D.
1 hr, 46 mins. I judge it a PG13.


Tried the Vegetarian Quesadillas at Abby Singers Bistro? Tasty, inexpensive ($9) and filling. Recommended!

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