--- title: "Pina: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/pina/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/pina" critics_score: 74 critics_reviews: 15 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Pina (2011): what the critics said Critics' score 74 from 15 reviews: 11 positive, 3 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics welcome Pina as a moving tribute to Pina Bausch, with praise centred on the dancers’ physical commitment and Wenders’ use of 3D. The reviews repeatedly credit the depth of the images with giving the choreography a compelling screen presence, rather than merely recording it. The company’s performances carry much of the emotion, and even several less persuaded critics admire how the film brings dance into cinema. The reservations concern what surrounds those performances, and what is missing. Several critics find the dancers’ interviews distracting or repetitive; others want more context about Bausch’s life and work. The spread is wide despite the positive majority, ranging from enthusiastic endorsements to complaints of excessive reverence and muddle. The New Yorker offers a distinct objection: it admires the 3D but argues that the outdoor staging and emphasis on dance underrepresent the unsettling theatrical side of Bausch’s work. ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 13 January 2012. Turan calls the film a knockout and praises its immersive use of 3-D to bring Pina Bausch’s dances vividly to the screen. He finds the dancer interviews less effective, saying they distract from the dances themselves. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2012-jan-13-la-et-pina-20120113-story.html) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 21 April 2011. Bradshaw finds the film a tremendous, poignant tribute that captures the yearning at the heart of Bausch’s work. He especially praises the dancers’ overwhelming physicality and the way 3D gives the choreography presence. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/apr/21/pina-review) ## IndieWire — Eric Kohn Rating B+. 22 December 2011. Kohn finds the film visually beautiful and heartfelt, but ultimately slight and not essential. He praises the immersive use of 3D while criticizing the reminiscences for distracting from Bausch’s dances. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/wim-wenders-3d-dance-tribute-pina-is-both-gorgeous-and-slight-50226/) ## Time Out — Joshua Rothkopf Rating 4/5. 20 December 2011. The available page identifies this as a review, but its verdict is not exposed in the accessible text. No specific element praised or criticized is available. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/pina-1) ## Empire — David Hughes Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 31 March 2011. The review calls the film a worthy, moving tribute to Pina Bausch. It praises the ensemble’s heartfelt performances and the way 3D captures the emotion in Bausch’s choreography. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/pina-review/) ## Variety — Leslie Felperin Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 13 February 2011. Festival review. Felperin finds the film captivating, though its lack of context may frustrate newcomers and dance purists. She praises its immersive presentation of Bausch’s choreography, especially the performances by her company. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2011/film/markets-festivals/pina-1117944599/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — THR Staff Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 14 February 2011. Festival review. The review calls the film a must for dance buffs and praises Wenders’ assured, stylish use of 3D. It singles out the strange, hypnotic dances and their imaginative settings, while noting that Bausch’s personal life and motivations remain unexplored. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/pina-berlin-review-99097/) ## Screen Daily — Lee Marshall Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 13 February 2011. Festival review. The accessible page does not reveal Marshall’s verdict or a specific point of praise or complaint. The review text is behind a registration prompt. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/pina/5023723.article) ## Slant Magazine — Jaime N. Christley Rating 2/4. 16 October 2011. The critic finds the film overly deferential and distracting, despite its impressive subject. They praise its ability to convey Bausch’s singular creative stature and the dancers’ performances. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/pina/) ## The New Yorker — Joan Acocella Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 10 January 2012. Acocella finds the film visually impressive but not especially representative of Bausch’s work. She praises its expert use of 3-D while faulting the outdoor staging and emphasis on dance over the unsettling theatrical scenes. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/pina-bauschs-zone-of-discomfort) ## HeyUGuys — Jamie Neish Rating 4.5/5. 26 April 2011. The critic calls the film a majestic, enterprising tribute to Pina Bausch. They single out Wenders’ bold cinematography and carefully integrated 3D for making the choreography especially compelling. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/pina-3d-review/) ## The Wrap — Alonso Duralde Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 13 January 2012. The critic calls the documentary an exhilarating, must-see celebration of Pina Bausch’s work. They praise Wenders’ kinetic use of 3D, while finding the dancers’ interviews repetitive. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/pina-pictures-dance-dance-revolution-34400/) ## Paste — Emily Kirkpatrick Rating 8.7/10. 24 December 2011. Kirkpatrick gives the film an enthusiastic verdict, calling it a haunting and beautiful elegy. She praises how 3D draws viewers into the dancers’ performances and merges art with everyday life. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/pina-1) ## Eye for Film — Anne-Katrin Titze Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 20 October 2011. The critic calls the film a powerful homage, though Wenders’s occasional sentimentality feels too heavy. She praises the immersive 3D presentation of Bausch’s choreography and its precise attention to movement. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/pina-film-review-by-anne-katrin-titze) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating C. 8 September 2011. Festival review. Goldberg finds the film visually splendid but ultimately muddled and tiresome. He praises Wenders’s blend of theater and cinema, especially the use of 3D and static framing. [Read the review](https://collider.com/pina-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/pina.md