Pina Bausch, 1966Photography by Walter Vogel
I watched Luca Guadagnino's remake of the 1977 horror/fantasy film Suspiria and to spare you from me gushing over minute details of the film, I'll give you the verdict: I loved it. It reminded me so much of all of my favorite Rainer Werner Fassbinder films (the red text used for the subtitles reminiscent of The Marriage of Maria Braun) and also of Mother!, Aronofsky's equally polarizing film. All I have to say is this: if you love beauty, terror, horror, and modern dance, you must see this film. Guadagnino's take on this horror classic is stunning, and the score and cinematic homages are enough to impress any cinema buff.
While watching, I couldn't help but notice a similar influence in the choreography of Madame Blanc's (Tilda Swinton) "Volk". Swinton herself seems to be based on a very Pina Bausch-esque character, and there is no question of Bausch's influence on the artful, powerful, and terrifying modern dance seen throughout the film. Swinton, pictured below, is seen elegantly swathed in simple fabrics and open silhouettes reminiscent of Yohji Yamamoto's collection inspired by Pina Bausch herself. This coupled with the sleek pony and cigarette, there's no denying that Pina was the inspiration for Guadagnino's terrifyingly chic reimagination of Madame Blanc.
Pina Bausch was a visionary, inspiring both clothing designers and directors alike. Her provocative choreography and stage presence was unparalleled, making her a true pioneer in the world of modern dance. It makes sense that a director such as Luca Guadagnino would choose her to be the inspiration for the both the choreography and one of the most important roles of the film. Guadagnino was not the first director to be won over by the late Pina Bausch's charms, however. According to an interview in December of 2011, Wim Wenders was convinced against his will by his girlfriend to go see a retrospective of Bausch's company, Tanztheater Wuppertal, in Venice. He was immediately entranced, claiming that it "changed his life". Shortly after Bausch's passing in 2009, Wenders made the film Pina, released in 2011. It is a stunning film that celebrates Bausch's beauty, strength, curiosity, and innovation within the world of modern dance through the lens of other artists working within the field.
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