The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl

1993 [GERMAN]

Biography / Documentary / History

14
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Certified Fresh 96% · 25 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Upright 87% · 500 ratings
IMDb Rating 8.0/10 10 3153 3.2K

filmmaker nazi propaganda artists' life

Director

Ray Muller Photo
Ray Muller

Top cast

Marlene Dietrich Photo
Marlene Dietrich as Herself
Adolf Hitler Photo
Adolf Hitler as Himself
Arnold Fanck Photo
Arnold Fanck as Himself
Ralph Metcalfe Photo
Ralph Metcalfe as Himself - U.S. Sprinter
720p.BLU 1080p.BLU
1.52 GB
968*720
German 2.0
NR
23.976 fps
3 hr 3 min
Seeds 3
2.96 GB
1440*1072
German 2.0
NR
23.976 fps
3 hr 3 min
Seeds 9

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by davesf 9 / 10

The Banality of Evil

If you've ever been curious about filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl, or more significantly, have wondered how a civilized nation like Germany could have stumbled into a black hole of evil and tyranny, you must see this superbly made documentary. It is scrupulously fair, presenting both exonerating and damning evidence without flinching. While it's very clear that Riefenstahl was not evil in the sense that Hitler, Goebbels, Goering, and Hess were, she certainly had blind spots, and a tendency to let wishful thinking sway her judgment. Like most Germans at the time, she often looked the other way when she could (though not always, as on at least two occasions she probably put herself at risk by openly criticizing the Nazi regime).She is shown as being far more interested in art than in Nazism. I had barely realized what an extraordinary talent she was, not just as a movie maker but as a dancer, mountaineer, actress, and photographer. It is so sad that she became a significant cog in the Nazi regime, and was severely punished as a result (as indeed all of Germany was). It would have been worse if they had not."Triumph of the Will" stands as a monument, a sobering reminder of the madness of crowds and the potential tragedy that lurks when they come under the sway of a master manipulator. Riefenstahl's personal tragedy finds some vindication in her willingness to make this film and thus to help us learn the lessons from her life.9 points.
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Reviewed by fkerr 7 / 10

A Documentary on Making Documentaries

For American tastes, this documentary is much too long for the subject matter. Yet, it is worth watching for several reasons. Considerable insight into the early appeal of Hitler to the German people shows through Frau Riefenstahl's comments. More than that, though, is the detailed presentation of a master documentary filmmaker and her secrets. As evidenced through her later work in Africa and under the sea, she is an amazing woman. Her comments and her work are presented in such a way that both can be appreciated.

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