ANCHOR INTRO: San Diego doesn't often play host to Oscar-nominated filmmakers but tonight Wim Wenders (pronounced Vim Venders) will present a screening of his Academy Award nominated documentary "Pina." KPBS arts reporter Beth Accomando has details. Filmmaker Wim Wenders helped usher in the German New Wave of the 1970s. He received an Oscar nomination in 1999 for "The Buena Vista Social Club" and another this year for the documentary "Pina." Wenders had been working with choreographer Pina Bausch on a dance film but she passed away before the film was completed so Wenders turned it into a tribute to her. In a press interview Wenders discussed her groundbreaking style. WENDERS: Pina started out with a whole different presence than dance in general, she said I'm not interested in how my dancers move, I am only interested in what moves them. And that is a gigantic difference, all of a sudden dance deals with something. Wenders will be in San Diego tonight to hold a Q&A after the 7:00 p.m. screening of "Pina" at the United Artists Horton Plaza Theaters. This is a rare opportunity for audience members to ask a filmmaker about his work. "Pina" presents the dances in 3-D in an effort to capture the novelty of Bausch's work, like this dance that takes place in rainy pools of water on stage. Dance and music. Wenders' film is up for a best documentary award this Sunday. A win could mean the film will have a longer life in theaters and better sales on DVD. Beth Accomando, KPBS News.
Acclaimed filmmaker Wim Wenders comes to San Diego to host a Q&A following the 7:00 p.m. screening of his Oscar-nominated documentary "Pina" Thursday February 23 at United Artists Horton Plaza Theaters.
Wim Wenders was heralded as part of the German New Wave in the 1970s. He has a long list of film credits ranging from his brilliant work in West Germany on films such as "The American Friend" and "Wings of Desire" to stunning American projects like "Paris, Texas" to his Oscar-nominated documentary "The Buena Vista Social Club." He is a filmmaker who challenges conventions and refuses to be contained by any boundaries. His films are beautiful explorations of how to use the language of cinema to tell a story.
His latest film is a breathtaking portrait of and tribute to choreographer Pina Bausch, who died in 2009. Wenders and Bausch had been collaborating on a 3D dance film and that project was transformed into the documentary "Pina." Wenders captures Bausch's unique choreography and conveys how clever, inventive, innovative, and dazzling her work could be. He also speaks with those who worked with her and gives a nice spin on the talking heads interviews by having all the interviewees silent in what are like on-camera portraits as we hear their voices describe Bausch. It's a lovely twist that makes us listen more closely as it allows the interviewees to convey something extra through their silent facial expressions.
But it's the dance that rivets us to the screen and Wenders showcases it magnificently. The trailer gives a taste of what to expect.
San Diego audiences have a truly rare and exceptional opportunity to see the film followed by a Q&A with the director this Thursday night. I am so thrilled the the studio has seen fit to bring Wenders to San Diego so I hope people will come out to support the film. I will have an interview with the director on Friday so look for a post then on Cinema Junkie.
