SUNDAY, JAN. 5

The best works of art, we think, whether it’s a film or a painting or a performance, are those that leave you convinced that life itself is an art, and inspired to tweak your own philosophy of living to let in a bit more creativity, a bit more play.

The film “Cunningham” showcases, in 3D no less, the work and life of American modern dance pioneer Merce Cunningham (1919-2009). Cunningham’s life held little separation from his art and how he pushed boundaries through movement and, fittingly, reviewers are saying this documentary by Moscow-born filmmaker Alla Kovgan is itself a work of art, preserving in a 93-minute film the master’s life experiences and iconic works throughout the first 30 years of his career in New York City, from 1942 to 1972.

Moved by Cunningham’s spirit, Kovgan said she was drawn to the intricacies of his mind as much as she was to his talent as a dancer and choreographer. You can see the film at the incredibly underrated Regal UA Long Beach in The Marketplace off Pacific Coast Highway.

“Renewing one’s appreciation of the many wonders of the human body and the space in which it fills and drifts, ‘Cunningham’ celebrates all the things our joints and flexed muscles are capable of, as seen through the mind and poetic dances of an iconic creator,” writes Variety’s Tomris Laffly.

Another great thing: We’re feeling very zen right now watching this clip of “Suite for Two.”

https://www.facebook.com/CunninghamMovie/videos/2744032092322584/?__xts__[0]=68.ARCSv4oCNIEWy2KEkUTmxiAGtUR0Pi3K_vSFwSpVWgphZWm7KzZgNoL3NmnDU2vVq8hyBZLHuPR_cr4Fu9uA2QXbRlATpJYJOGC189y5L6zHv6R_xWvBbQDYH4425TK3EMmVqneMPPiqZpldD5pnHFG2SWdiSk95rDBYKA76d22873eeGpHtnXMbLnIp7kq3SSBAsfL_Qff_ydtT-0UEp9d74fG9nR0B_dgStXwQu3512v8jGHj45tJ8iLWarIo8DeoqMqX298IpOxVIM6bLK_cn-D1XocDw8bwgJ4Bd1B-OQvhOxa2715aAgb1ijxAJUK6d_zL9ldoag6O84UTXtB2JjEeUFa65xM8&__tn__=-R

Giving us a moment’s pause: In 2015 film crews traveled to the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis to where the original Robert Rauschenberg pointillist decor was kept, which Cunningham used to stage one of his pieces, “Summerspace” that premiered in 1958.

The original Merce Cunningham Dance Company in a scene from CUNNINGHAM, a Magnolia Pictures release. Robert Rutledge. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

They took 320 photos and stitched them together to recreate “Summerspace” for the film, pictured below. Learn more about the making of the scene here.

A scene from CUNNINGHAM, a Magnolia Pictures release. Mko Malkshasyan. Photo courtesy Magnolia Pictures.

Cunningham plays at 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. in 2D and at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in 3D at Regal UA Long Beach; 6601 Pacific Coast Highway. Learn more about the film here.

Asia Morris is a Long Beach native covering arts and culture for the Long Beach Post. You can reach her @hugelandmass on Twitter and Instagram and at [email protected].