Thanks to Sydney Film Festival's overly enthusiastic emailing system, I frequently get bombarded by opportunities for freebies and my running rule is, surely out of ten competitions, I would most likely get to win at least once. And that, ladies and gents, is how I got freebies to the world's first 3D dance film, Pina.
This documentary is really all about Pina Bausch, an icon in modern dance who passed away a year or so ago. The documentary presents an intimate look into how she inspired the multitude of dancers whom she worked with and what inspired Pina's work through the years, including the iconic "Cafe Mueller", which was featured heavily in Almodovar's wondermous "Talk to Her".
What I find really interesting about the film is that it shows snipets of Pina's works, theatrical dance masterpieces which marry strength and fragility in backdrops reflecting elemental features. Add the 3D aspects of the film, and it should have been enough in the film to sustain interest in Pina.
Yet somehow, the movie loses steam midway through, and by the time you get to hear the 7th dancer's take on Pina and her style of choreographing, you lose interest in the never-ending gushes for Pina's understated genius as a choreographer and a mentor. I think the movie needed a stronger angle in presenting such an interesting dancer and choreographer, and the way it was handled was just too simplistic and amateurish.
Admittedly, if I were a professional dancer, I may have found this movie gripping. But sadly, speaking as a regular Joe, it just didn't keep me engaged.
Pina: 2.5 slices.
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