From Avatar to Alice in Wonderland, these films have done a brisk trade at the box office. Perhaps unsurprisingly, fans at the artier end of the film spectrum have been fairly sniffy about this return to 3D, but things might just be changing.

This year has seen two of the most celebrated European directors of the last 50 years, Wim Wenders and Werner Herzog, make their own contribution to the revival.

Last month Herzog’s astonishing Cave of Forgotten Dreams was screened at Curzon Richmond and from April 29 the cinema in Water Lane will be showing Pina, Wenders’ homage to the late, great German choreographer, Pina Bausch.

Wenders, whose best known works include Kings of the Road and Wings of Desire, had been planning to film Bausch’s work for many years but could not work out the best way of translating her daring ensemble pieces to the big screen.

When he saw a 3D concert film featuring U2, Wenders found his inspiration. Sadly, Bausch died in 2009 shortly before filming was due to commence, but the resulting film pays stunning tribute to her life and work.

Pina captures performances by Bausch’s company of her most famous dances, including Café Muller, and new pieces devised by her dancers and performed in strange and almost surreal locations in her home town of Wuppertal.

Interviews with the dancers are an unnecessary addition but this is the only misstep in a memorable and moving film. The dance scenes are truly thrilling as the camera swoops in and out of the action. Despite being no great dance fan, I was completely swept along by the fusion of Bausch’s art and Wenders’ 3D rendering of it.

Neither Wenders or Herzog can do much about eye strain or colour loss caused by 3D, yet what Pina and Cave of Forgotten Dreams prove is that, in the right hands, 3D is a medium with the ability to dazzle.

Pina (U) is showing at Curzon Richmond from April 29. For screening times and booking information, visit curzoncinemas.com