The first of the four main pieces that is presented in the film is Le sacre du printemps (Frühlingsopfer, or, The Rite of Spring), which was first performed with Bausch's choreography in 1975.

In it, the dancers, separated into male and female groups, move about a stage covered by a thick layer of peat as one of the women is chosen to be sacrificed.

The film is bookended by all of the dancers walking single-file while performing a simple bit of choreography related to the passing seasons with their hands.

[7] A. O. Scott of The New York Times was enthusiastic about the film, writing: "Choreography is a notoriously perishable art.

"[8] Kimberley Jones of The Austin Chronicle praised the "utterly transfixing, exhilarating spectacle of bodies in motion" provided by the film.

[9] In the run-up to the 84th Academy Awards, Pina was selected as the German entry for the Best Foreign Language Film category,[10][11] as well as being submitted for Best Documentary Feature.