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Cunningham is a thoughtful and inspiring documentary about dance legend Merce Cunningham, directed by Alla Kovgan. The film is a vibrant and captivating portrayal of Cunningham's extraordinary career, and the revolutionary impact he had on modern dance. Using a combination of archival footage, interviews with artists who worked with Cunningham, and elegant 3D graphics, Kovgan brings to life Cunningham's creative vision and the dynamic physicality of his choreography. Through carefully selected clips from some of his most iconic works, including Summerspace, Antic Meet and Roaratorio, the audience is transported into the kinetic world of his ballets.

The film traces Cunningham's career from his early years as a dancer with Martha Graham's company, through his establishment of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company in 1953, and into the years of his greatest experimentation with digital technology in the 21st century. Along the way, we learn about his close collaborations with avant-garde artists including composer John Cage, visual artist Robert Rauschenberg and filmmaker Charles Atlas.

Throughout the film, Kovgan highlights the many innovations Cunningham made to the art form of dance, such as his use of chance procedures to determine movement sequences, his incorporation of everyday gestures into his choreography, and his pioneering use of dance for film and video. These innovations have had a lasting impact on the worlds of dance and performance, and are still influencing choreographers today.

More than just a biographical portrait of a seminal dancer, the film is also a celebration of Cunningham's life and work. Kovgan deftly interweaves concert footage, photographs, diary entries and interviews to create a rich and layered portrait of a complex artist. The retrospective is filled with stirring performances, including several newly-shot renditions of some of Cunningham's most famous works.

An exceptional group of dancers, including Ashley Chen and Carolyn Brown, bring Cunningham's choreography to life with incredible energy and precision, showcasing the fierce physicality and fluidity of his work. Kovgan's use of 3D technology adds a new dimension to the already stunning pieces, immersing the viewer in the world of the dancers and allowing them to appreciate the brilliance of Cunningham's vision in a new way.

While the film is a loving tribute to an icon of the dance world, it also manages to convey the sense of constant evolution that underpinned Cunningham's career. Throughout his life, Cunningham pushed himself and his art form to constantly evolve, to explore new ideas and push beyond boundaries. As such, his body of work not only reflects the artistic ideals of his generation, but also laid the groundwork for future generations to expand on his legacy.

Overall, Cunningham is a beautifully crafted film that is both informative and inspiring, introducing viewers to one of the most innovative and groundbreaking figures in the world of dance. The film's blend of archival footage, interviews and stylish 3D graphics provides an immersive and engrossing experience for audiences, and serves as a fitting tribute to a pioneer whose legacy continues to resonate today.

Cunningham is a 2019 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6 and a MetaScore of 83.