Rating: 
Summary: Love her or hate her....
Review: ...this remains an important and gripping documentary!
It's difficult to describe the amazing power of Leni Riefenstahl's persuasive personality, yet Muller has beautifully managed to create and capture 3+ hours of intensely compelling documentary. It is beautifully preserved on this DVD, which unfortunately offers no special features.
Director and Subject are both fascinating. Since a decade has passed since the late Leni Riefenstahl was interviewed for this opus, it would be great to have had a bonus commentary track or an "update" featurette.
Having had the unique opportunity to correspond with both artists, I am impressed and awed by this documentary's ability to present a fair and balanced portrait of one of the most (if not THE MOST) controversial filmmakers of the 20th Century.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic and comprehensive
Review: As a semi retired filmmaker, Mueller's film was very touching. He was able to probe so deeply. I felt so sorry for Riefenstahl and for us because she was not permitted to make any more films during her prime. Many of her answers were self serving and obviously rehearsed and polished over the years. I get the feeling that she was not nearly so innocent as she portrayed herself. Nor was she very guilty either. What a talent! And what a pity that she made only two important films. END
Rating:
Summary: Love Her or Hate Her...This is Well Worth Watching!
Review: Brew yourself a pot of tea and sit down for a few hours with this one. An honest, objective look at the controversial life and career (in her case, can they be separated?) of the brilliant filmmaker/photographer/you-name-it-she-can-do-it Leni Riefenstahl...still amazing at the age of 100. This is a wonderful introduction to her work if you aren't familiar with it, or the perfect compliment if you already are. Fascinating woman, fascinating documentary.
Rating:
Summary: Talked to Ray myself
Review: During a screening he visited Bond University in Australia and explained how hard it was to make the movie objective.I can only recommend it, especially since Leni was really gifted and very much before her time. She even ordered special film stock for one of her first movies. Very interesting.
Rating:
Summary: Thought provoking...
Review: I am writing this review immediately after watching the movie. It is a very thought provoking movie, and my mind is still digesting the many ideas and questions raised by this movie. So while this review lacks in well-formed intellectual critique, I hope this is compensated by immediacy of my emotional response. I am first aware that I, the viewer of this movie, as well as the director of the movie onscreen interviewing Leni, are in the presence of an intellectually strong, artistically gifted, pioneering, insightful, once-beautiful and daring, woman. And the awareness of this is at once intimidating and compelling. Now in her 90's, we realize her life's talent and triumph is also her burden and downfall. Born in 1902, her story begins as an actress beautiful, atheletic, and daring on the granite faces of the alps. Through turns of events she becomes a director, and through the times she comes to direct documentaries of great political influence such as Triumph of the Will. The intrigue for me comes in several forms: 1) Understanding her directorial techniques that so influenced the masses in Germany, 2) Understanding her culpability, 3) Understanding the culpability of the German people (who clearly all supported Hitler), 4) Understanding the tradgedy of it all, both for her, Germany, and the rest of the world. Like I said, I've just seen the movie, and don't have a well-formed critique at the tip of my tongue or typing fingers. What I can say is this: this is a good movie, substantial in historical insight, and a great documentary and biography (one of my favorie genres). I'll be thinking of this movie for quite a while. Thoroughly thought-provoking!
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating!
Review: I never heard of this woman, Leni Riefenstahl, until I was perusing the Amaon.com listing of documentaries. It sounded interesting, so I purchased it. First, I must say Leni is a dynamic character with whom you wiil definitely sympathize, just as she was judged by a court after the war to have sympathized with the Nazis. I think it pretty much reflects the frustration, consternation, and horror of the whole Nazi era. Everyone claims to have known nothing of what was happening in the concentration camps, even those such as Leni who had access to the highest echelons of Nazi society. I think the viewer will understand how gray the whole thing became. Leni poses the question herself: Were filmmakers compelled by Stalin to create films for him responsible for the deaths he caused? I can't help but feel Leni was scapegoated in some way. I can understand why some would be angry with her for creating the film, The Triumph of the Will, that made the Nazi Congress at Nuremburg seem like somethin out of a Wagner opera. Yet, I think the film shows that her creation of Triumph of Wills, which she claims was forced on her--and she only made one film for the Nazis, per se--was consistent with her perfectionist attitude toware her work. She's not being faulted so much for having made a film about the Nazis but about having a made a very fine film for the Nazis--which received international prizes when it was released, even in Paris . . . Her life reflects the contradictions of her time; she states her regreat about having made "Triumph". I for one believe her. Anyway, who are any of us to judge anyone else? She never even joined the Nazi party.
Watch this film!
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating!
Review: I never heard of this woman, Leni Riefenstahl, until I was perusing the Amaon.com listing of documentaries. It sounded interesting, so I purchased it. First, I must say Leni is a dynamic character with whom you wiil definitely sympathize, just as she was judged by a court after the war to have sympathized with the Nazis. I think it pretty much reflects the frustration, consternation, and horror of the whole Nazi era. Everyone claims to have known nothing of what was happening in the concentration camps, even those such as Leni who had access to the highest echelons of Nazi society. I think the viewer will understand how gray the whole thing became. Leni poses the question herself: Were filmmakers compelled by Stalin to create films for him responsible for the deaths he caused? I can't help but feel Leni was scapegoated in some way. I can understand why some would be angry with her for creating the film, The Triumph of the Will, that made the Nazi Congress at Nuremburg seem like somethin out of a Wagner opera. Yet, I think the film shows that her creation of Triumph of Wills, which she claims was forced on her--and she only made one film for the Nazis, per se--was consistent with her perfectionist attitude toware her work. She's not being faulted so much for having made a film about the Nazis but about having a made a very fine film for the Nazis--which received international prizes when it was released, even in Paris . . . Her life reflects the contradictions of her time; she states her regreat about having made "Triumph". I for one believe her. Anyway, who are any of us to judge anyone else? She never even joined the Nazi party.
Watch this film!
Rating:
Summary: What should an artist do?
Review: I own this film and look at it often. My question is, what is an artist's responsibility in times of moral trial? What if this incredibly talented woman had refused to make Triumph of the Will? What if she had come to the United States in the '30's? This documentary is filled with 'what if's'? What if she had chosen to show people yawning while Hitler spoke? What if she wasn't so fascinated by the male body and face. This is an extaordinary documentary that makes you feel as uncomfortable as the subject must feel from time to time. It's as if this subject is still too hard for any of us to deal with. Please see this film.
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Summary: Leni, You are the Uber Noodnik of All Time
Review: I'm floating by you, Leni, with my snorkel bubbling, and my heart pounding. Lets hit the shore and lean back on our hands and shake the sands of time out of our minds, and face the unknown with our own unknown.
Rating:
Summary: Convincing, believable, talented artist who captured the bes
Review: Leni Riefenstahl has many friends in the dive community. Seveal of whom I've meet. Her friends, Hans Hass and Dr. Wolfgang always send their regards. To read a Leni Riefenstahl book is to enlighten yourself about the realities she faced. This film is convincingly honest and provocative. Leni is a fascinating woman who I admire greatly. She writes with trust and honesty.
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