Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by Victor Khomenko (i) on July 28, 2000 at 13:20:11:

In Reply to: Leni Reifenstahl's Triumph of the Will posted by maldar on July 28, 2000 at 13:05:11:

***I have a video tape of this documentary about the National Socialist Party Congress at Nuremberg in 1934. The cinematic technique is brilliant and the quality of the images Reifenstahl captures are simply awe inspiring. Has anyone else seen this or some of her other films like the Blue Light or the film she did about the 1936 Olympics in Berlin? Any thoughts on her work?

Yes. Brilliant.

But even more remarkable is her life - starting scuba diving at 70 and shacking up with a 50-year old guy at 90, among other things. She had an incredible talent that was largely dumped upon after the war - form your own opinion whether she did or did not deserve it. As a director she had very few equals, as a remarkable person - fewer yet. That doesn't make her right - but her life story is not your trivial reading.

You may have hard time finding her other movies, but her life story: "The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl" is a must see.

***NOTICE: I do realize that the subject matter of some of her work contains material that might be offensive to individuals of certain ethnic/religious orientation. I only respect her talents as a director/ film maker and either support or condemn her political affiliations both past and present. Nor am I attempting to start a flame thread by addressing/mentioning Reifenstahl, her film work or the National Socialist Party. I prefer to remain politically neutral.

And I am fiercely anti-fascist - that doesn't stop me from seeing her qualities.

I don't see such disclaimer as necessary.