Macht der Bilder: Leni Riefenstahl, Die (1993)

Director:

Ray Müller

Writer:

Ray Müller (writer)

Release Date:

June 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | Biography

Plot:

A documentary about the life and work of Leni Riefenstahl, a German film director most notorious for making the most effective propaganda films for the Nazis.

Plot Keywords:

Archive Footage | Cinema | Female Nudity | Opinion | Film Maker

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win

Cast

Leni Riefenstahl	...	Herself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Marlene Dietrich	...	Herself (archive footage)
Walter Frentz	...	Himself - Camerman 1936 Olymipcs
Josef Goebbels	...	Himself (archive footage)
Rudolf Hess	...	Himself (archive footage)
Adolf Hitler	...	Himself (archive footage)
Horst Kettner	...	Himself - Leni's Companion
Guzzi Lantschner	...	Himself - Camerman 1936 Olymipcs
Ray Müller	...	Himself
Jesse Owens	...	Himself (archive footage)
Luis Trenker	...	Himself

Also Known As:

The Power of the Image: Leni Riefenstahl
The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl

Runtime:

180 min

Country:

France | UK | Germany | Belgium

Language:

German

Color:

Black and White | Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Germany

Company:

Channel Four Films

Movie Connections:

References Olympia 2. Teil - Fest der Schönheit (1938)

Still Feisty at 90

This documentary was apparently one of the first to examine Leni's life with her actually being interviewed at great depth. The film is broken up into two parts, her films as an actress and her relations with the Nazi party, and then her later films and the rest of her life. The film is fascinating, showing many lengthy clips from all her films. There is no questions that she was a very, very talented filmmaker, and very innovative for her time. Many of the camera angles and shots that she used were invented by her, and are still in wide use today.

It is very clear that at the time the film was made, that Leni was still used to being in control. She is apparently difficult as an interview subject, and is seen in many shots refusing to do what the cameraman tells her. She is also very highly defensive of our association with the Nazi party. At one point, the interviewer asks her about her relationship with Goebels. She replies that she knew him only casually and then had a falling out, after which they never spoke again. However, when she is confronted with the diaries of Goebels, and according to them, they both saw each other at numerous social and political functions, Leni becomes mad and walks out.

My own personal belief is that she has tried to whitewash her association with the Nazi party in her later years.