Leni Riefenstahl (1 Viewer)

[jazzeum]

Leni Riefenstahl is one of the most interesting characters of the Nazi Era. Her Triumph of the Will was a master piece of propaganda and her Olympia broke new ground in cinematographic effects. They are both required watching.

There have been several good books about her, the ones from 1995 and 2008 come to mind.

There are also have been some excellent documentaries in which she tried to escape the taint of Nazi Germany, something she was never quite able to do.

 

[jazzeum]

The documentary in question is The Wonderful Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl, from 1993. It's available through Netflix. Required watching if you want to understand her. I was mesmerized when I saw it.

The books are Riefenstahl's own Leni Riefenstahl: A Memoir and Leni Riefenstahl: A Life by Jurgen Trimborn.

 

[Scott]

Olympia is pretty good. "Triumph of the Will" goes to those that can sit though all of it. I made it after most left the showing.

 

[Combat]

It's an interesting discussion regarding whether you can or should separate the work of a talented artist from their own flaws. More recent examples are the allegations regarding Woody Allen. And someone like Roman Polanski who is treated like a god in Hollywood and Europe even though he pled guilty to drugging and raping an underage girl. Something that would land most people in jail for a very long time.

 

[Poppo]

She was a creative person even after the war. She made many documentaries and films on nature during all her life, photos, also by diving in old age...