INTERNATIONAL CINEMA: RIEFENSTAHL
Seen as a groundbreaking filmmaker and propagandist for Hitler’s Third Reich, Leni Riefenstahl did everything in her power to rewrite her tainted past. This documentary relentlessly exposes the lies. It is the biography of one of the most controversial filmmakers of the 20th century.
Leni Riefenstahl, renowned for her innovative filmmaking and as a propagandist for Hitler’s Third Reich, endeavored to rewrite her tainted past. Her legacy includes films like Das blaue Licht (1932), Triumph des Willens (1935), and Olympia (1938), which, despite their artistic acclaim, glorify a world dominated by the strong and willful. Andres Veiel’s documentary exposes Riefenstahl’s unwavering support for Nazi ideology, challenging her self-portrayal as an apolitical artist misused by politics. The film illustrates how consistently rewriting one’s history can lead to believing one’s own falsehoods. Veiel’s work not only sheds light on the past but also offers insights into contemporary issues.
