Pina – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Pina

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2011

68%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Breathtaking 3D dance documentary that's absolutely stunning... if you're into avant-garde German choreography (and let's be honest, most kids aren't).

7.6/10

95%

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Pina

movie

PG, 2011

68%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Breathtaking 3D dance documentary that's absolutely stunning... if you're into avant-garde German choreography (and let's be honest, most kids aren't).

7.6

95%

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7.6/10

95%

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Screenwise Verdict

Let's be clear: Pina is objectively beautiful, critically acclaimed, and culturally significant. The 3D cinematography is stunning, the choreography is groundbreaking, and if you care about modern dance, this is essential viewing.

But for 99% of families? This is going to be a hard pass. It's a slow, meditative art documentary with no plot, minimal dialogue, and avant-garde German dance that requires both patience and cultural context to appreciate. Even dance-loving kids will likely struggle unless they're already deep into the art form.

The WISE score reflects this reality: high marks for imagination and enrichment in the abstract, but massive watchability penalty because this simply isn't accessible entertainment for most viewers. If you have a teen who's serious about dance or contemporary art, absolutely show them this. Everyone else can safely skip it without missing out on family-friendly content.

Age Fit

Realistically for teens 14+ and adults who have genuine interest in dance, art, or documentary film. Common Sense says 11+, but that's optimistic—most preteens will be bored senseless. This is niche viewing for the artistically inclined, not family movie night material.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

A respectful, emotionally resonant tribute to choreographer Pina Bausch. The documentary showcases dance as a form of human expression with themes of connection, memory, and artistic passion. No toxic behavior or negative modeling, though some dance pieces explore melancholy and loss in ways that are mature but not inappropriate.

Imaginative

Extraordinary visual creativity shot in 3D by Wim Wenders. The choreography itself is avant-garde and pushes boundaries of movement and expression. Performances in unexpected locations (forests, quarries, industrial spaces) invite viewers to see dance and space in completely new ways. This is imagination at its most artistic and boundary-pushing.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates it 11+, suggesting some mature thematic elements. Modern dance can include intense physical expression, some revealing costumes typical of dance performances, and emotionally heavy themes (grief, longing). No graphic violence, sexual content, or language concerns, but the avant-garde nature means some pieces may feel unsettling or abstract. Not a 'surprise scary moment' concern, but definitely art-house territory.

Enriching

Critically acclaimed (95% RT critics, 83 Metacritic) documentary that introduces viewers to groundbreaking contemporary dance and artistic legacy. Offers insight into creative process, physical expression as communication, and how art preserves memory. For kids interested in dance, theater, or art, this is genuinely enriching. However, entertainment value is limited for general audiences—this is high art, not popcorn viewing.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Visually spectacular 3D cinematography by Wim Wenders that makes dance feel immersive and alive
Introduces Pina Bausch's groundbreaking Tanztheater style—genuinely important cultural education for aspiring dancers or theater kids
Shows how art can express grief, memory, and human connection without words—powerful for emotionally mature viewers
Performances in unexpected locations (quarries, forests, city streets) that reimagine what dance can be
Critics universally loved it (95% RT) for good reason—this is art with a capital A

⚠

What to Watch For

This is art-house documentary territory—slow pacing, no narrative, just dance pieces with minimal context
Some choreography explores mature themes (loneliness, desire, mortality) through intense physical expression
Dance costumes can be revealing in ways typical of professional performance but not gratuitous
Zero chance most kids under 13 will sit through this unless they're already serious about dance
It's in German with subtitles during interview segments, adding another accessibility hurdle

Conversation Starters

"What do you think the dancers were trying to express with their movements?"
"How does dancing in a quarry or forest change the feeling compared to a stage?"
"If you could create a dance about something important to you, what would it look like?"
"Why do you think they made this documentary after Pina Bausch died? What does it preserve?"

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