Film Matinée

Pina Bausch Centre under construction, Bundesallee 260, Wuppertal 

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Followed by a discussion with the director Anne Linsel and Prof. Dr Florence Millet, Executive Director of the Cologne University of Music and Dance – Wuppertal Campus

“Pina Bausch” by Anne Linsel is a special documentary:

For the first time, Pina Bausch speaks publicly and at length about her work in Wuppertal. In between clips from her productions, dancers from the company and set designer Peter Pabst also share their thoughts. The film was shot at various locations, including Wuppertal, Brussels, Venice, and Lisbon.

Press Reviews

“The beauty of Anne Linsel’s film portrait is that it’s not about outward admiration, but about innermost feelings!” (Westdeutsche Zeitung)

“The viewer senses her strength and vulnerability, her courage and her fear, her obsession and her despair.” (Rheinische Post).

Sir Arno – The Theater Maker Arno Wüstenhöfer by Claudia Gehre and Christiane Gibiec:

Arno Wüstenhöfer (1920–2003) served as artistic director of the Wuppertaler Bühnen from 1964 to 1975. He transformed the theater into one of the most modern and critically acclaimed in the Federal Republic of Germany. As early as the opening of the new theater in 1966, there was friction with the city’s cultural administration. Wüstenhöfer wanted to open the theater on the Wupper with Else Lasker-Schüler’s play “Die Wupper,” directed by Hans Bauer. The city officials found this too controversial, and Wüstenhöfer yielded to the pressure. In the end, Lessing’s “Nathan the Wise” was performed, with “Die Wupper” following as the second production. Heinrich Böll’s combative opening speech, “The Freedom of Art,” also caused a stir in the city.

In 1974, Arno Wüstenhöfer—known as an artistic director who liked to tackle controversial issues—brought Pina Bausch to Wuppertal. At first, her work was barely understood by the press and the public. Success came only when the company was invited on tour and captivated audiences worldwide.

Director Claudia Gehre and Wuppertal-based writer Christiane Gibiec filmed the documentary “Sir Arno – The Theater Maker Arno Wüstenhöfer” for WDR a good thirty years ago. In it, numerous colleagues share their stories, and there is a legendary interview with Arno Wüstenhöfer and Pina Bausch in which they talk about their collaboration. In fact, Wüstenhöfer proved to be a magnet for talent. Directors such as Pete Zadek, Hans Neuenfels, and Luc Bondy staged productions at the Schauspielhaus; many renowned actors and actresses performed there such as Bernhard Minetti and Rosel Zech; and people spoke of the “Wuppertal theater miracle.”