Pina in PDX

Still processing last Thursday’s presentation of Pina, the documentary ode to German choreographer Pina Bausch by Wim Wenders. Made in 3D, the film explores the limitations of 2D cinema as a tool for representing dance, and was particularly effective in the early scenes depicting Bauch’s take on Right of Spring/Le Sacre du Printemps. With her company DanzTheater Wuppertal, Bausch had the resources to put a lot of bodies on stage, and the 3D vews provided particularly visceral access to the dancers’ physicality. Beginning with the application of a layer of dirt to the stage floor, Pina’s Printemps involves us in the sweat and the grime of the piece directly; the viewer can almost smell the choreography. Thursday’s shows at Portland’s Cinema 21 were particularly auspicious with Wenders attending and taking questions from the audience. He is a reassuring figure, a thoughtful artist who makes serious art, and worthy of his success over the last 30+ years. Be sure to also check out last week’s interview with Wenders on OPB’s Think Out Loud.