MovieChat Forums > Triumph des Willens (1935) Discussion > A landmark work by a great film director

A landmark work by a great film director

posted 17 years ago by doug7347
2 replies | jump to latest

Due to making this film Leni Riefenstahl has been considered an immoral monster who glorified history's worst criminal. If only we all had the benefit of 20-20 foresight!

As others have noted here, in this film and "Olympia" Riefenstahl proved herself as so far the only female genius in the history of film. The undeniable power of this mesmerizing documentary is truly frightening.

I can't feel too sorry for Leni Riefenstahl losing her career due to making this film; the millions murdered and tortured by Hitler's regime suffered far worse. I do regret not being able to see the films she might have made later as a mature artist. It's as though the only films we had from Hitchkock were "The 39 Steps" and "The Lady Vanishes"; you would always wonder what he might have done later in life.

[–] doug7347 14 years ago

bttt

[–] timlin-4 14 years ago

What kind of "genius"? As an editor? Because the rallies and games were directed and written by others. And it is one of the most boring films ever. People fascinated with Riefenstahl probably have some fantasies about a woman in a Nazi uniform whipping them, because if this film were made by man no one would call him a "genius".