The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl
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Movie Reviews of The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl
Movie Review: The Woman...The Artist...The Nazi?
Summary: 5 Stars
This is, perhaps, the most fascinating documentary I have ever seen. Leni Riefenstahl is a complex, controversial, and enigmatic individual. The film very effectively raises (and ultimately does not answer) the question as to what extent artistic genius does or does not transcend political and national boundaries. Director Ray Muller, in many ways, is not up to the task of interviewing this incredibly powerful and self-absorbed woman. But, one must ask, who could be? Muller carefully documents the story of her life, from her early days as a dancer and silver screen star, through the time of her involvement with the National Socialist Party, to her current life as an underwater photographer. And the truth about anything is never quite clear. Innovative and profound techniques abound from start to finish, contrasted with the persistent intellectual task of trying to determine just who this woman really was. The film is long, and ultimately exhausting. As it should be. You will see things you have never seen before, and which you'll never forget (such as Hitler's amazing speech, and Riefenstahl's unparalleled underwater color photographs, to name just two!). But, you're ultimately left with a question. Was she, or wasn't she? And, if she was or she wasn't, what is her responsibility? Muller won't answer that for you. My only advice is: don't ask her! She'll just show you contempt and say, "I did nothing wrong!"Movie Review: Excellent History Lesson
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a wonderful story of the many careers of this incredible woman. Still living and working in Berlin, Leni continues to amaze even her most serious detractors. Lengthly and very detailed the film takes us through her life, starting with her early film career in Germany under Hitler. By it's very nature, it's her side of the story and many will not agree (or want to agree) with her story. However, the film is an excellent introduction to the life and work of a master filmmaker. She may not give the answers that her detractors are seeking, but she is believable and candid. The main point here is her talent, her dedication and the incredible contribution she's made to the film industry. This is a must-have film for anyone interested in the history of film.
Movie Review: Leni, You are the Uber Noodnik of All Time
Summary: 5 Stars
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.Movie Review: Quit shoving
Summary: 3 Stars
This film raises many, many provocative questions about Riefenstahl and her work. More importantly, the director also confronts her with these, and, given the nature of the accusations against her, she is less than revealing. One wonders which of the many charges leveled at her bother the most? Is she more bothered by the complaints that she was a Nazi collaborator, or by the critique that her work contains a Fascistic aesthetic. Ultimately, this documentary comes off as an antidote to Riefenstahl. It poses no clear answers, and often seems involved in trivia. Watching Riefenstahl reminisce with her 'Olympiad' cameramen was interesting, but dry. Seeing her physically shove the director of this documentary emphasizes the frustration she feels at not being to present her point of view.At times, Muller's documentary could have taken some tips from its subject: it was overlong, and seemed lacking in drama, and seemed to get absorbed in the minutia. The presence of Muller and his crew often seemed distracting; usually, when a documentarian appears in their own film, I expect to see more about their own personal interest. Shots of Riefenstahl alone in the massive settings of her documentaries were powerful, but it seems difficult to reconcile with her busy lifestyle with current partner.
Last week, Reuters reported that Riefenstahl, at 98, survived a plane crash in Africa, where she was returning to visit the Nuba. 'Triumph of the Will' seems to refer much better to Riefenstahl herself than to her subjects.
Movie Review: wonderful horrrible woman
Summary: 5 Stars
This film is an incredible testament to the life and artistry of an early feminist filmmaker, Leni Riefenstahl. What is remarkable about this film, is Riefenstahl's description of the PROCESS of her filmmaking creativity: how she edits, how she discovered certain principles of filmmaking, etc. Her denial of her complicity in the Nazi regime is disturbing. Research has shown that she DID use concentration camp inmates as extras in her films. She denies this in the film, but the evidence is incontrovertible. In any case, this is a fascinating film that tells as much about Riefenstahl as it does about the filmmaker. Highly recommended to anyone interested in ethnographic film, documentary film, German filmmaking and German history.