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Analysis Of The Film ' Leni Riefenstahl '

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Having directed and acted in many films, Leni Riefenstahl has become a major figure of the Nazi film industry. Her most well-known film Triumph of the Will (Triumph des Willens, 1935) is still considered the greatest propaganda film of all time. While Riefenstahl claims that the film is a documentary and based on “history”. Susan Sontag 's response is that the film it is seen as a portrayal of a fascist society. A Nazi propaganda tool and not necessarily intended as a fascist viewpoint. Sontag reasons that the film techniques, and the relationship between Leni Riefenstahl and the Nazi leadership as well as the consistent illustration of fascist themes found in the film establishes that Triumph of the Will is fascist and intended to promote and preserve the Nazi ideology.
During the rise of power of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party 's in the 1930 's, Leni Riefenstahl became a household name as a film director, her claim to fame was putting a public face to Hitler. During this time period, it was very rare for the public to know what their leader looked like, and with this film it allowed many of the Germans to finally get to see who they elected into power. Hitler’s goal was the complete eradication of the Jewish peoples, in addition he wanted to spread his ideology and power across Europe. In order to achieve this goal, Hitler needed the support of all of the German citizens. Which lead to Hitler commissioning, Leni Riefenstahl to direct a film that would later be dubbed the

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