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The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl

Play trailer Poster for The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl Released Sep 11, 1993 3h 2m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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96% Tomatometer 25 Reviews 87% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Ray Müller directs this extensive documentary on the life of Nazi propaganda filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl. Created at the behest of Riefenstahl, the film honestly delves into her association with Hitler and the extent to which she knows of the Nazi Party's entire strategy. It also gives a fuller picture of Riefenstahl's life, discussing her ascent from dancer to documentary filmmaker, as well as her post-Nazi work, which includes nature filmmaking and photography.
The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl

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Critics Consensus

Leni Riefenstahl reflects on her own Wonderful, Horrible Life in this absorbing documentary, which contends with the contradiction of the awful power that great art can hold.

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Critics Reviews

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Walter Goodman New York Times ... it is her unforgettable and, for many, unforgivable achievements in behalf of Hitler that give the program its force. Dec 9, 2017 Full Review Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader This is more often self-portrait than portrait; like Hitler in Riefenstahl's Triumph of the Will, she's presented as a fully formed deity without family background or ideology save a reverence for beauty and strength. Mar 14, 2007 Full Review Vincent Canby New York Times Sometimes clunky but consistently fascinating. Rated: 3.5/5 Aug 30, 2004 Full Review Joan Juliet Buck Vogue The movie star who embodied the ideals of a nation hungry for myth and then became one of the prime creators and promoters of that myth, Leni Riefenstahl is the most fascinating and weirdly engaging monster ever recorded on film. Feb 29, 2024 Full Review Lawrence Frascella The Advocate This documentary should prove as fascinating to armchair psychologists as it is to film enthusiasts. Apr 19, 2022 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com A riveting docu about the controversial filmmaker who made some great propaganda art for Hitler Rated: B Jul 25, 2011 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member detailed and fascinating insight into the life and work of a unique and formidable lady. great footage of her and her crew at work, underlining the extent of her artistic and technical achievements Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Audience Member How did I never learn about this woman in school? Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/15/23 Full Review Audience Member If you've never seen this do yourself a favor and take a "PBS moment" and explore the power of the camera and it's application in manipulating human emotions. Especailly during an election season. Art meets politics and the discussions of Leni's degrees of involvement are not answered with this film, but she poses and interesting question at one point should an artist or thier work be held accountable for it's poilitcal/ cultural impact? Do they have a responcibility to society? While the answer might depend upon circumstances I think Japanese filmmaker Kenji Mizoguchi who in the same era being forced by the military to make propoganda entertainment films delivered some of the most "bland" films ever made as an act of passive resistence. Not allowing his art to be used by others for ill purposes. The 47 Ronin is one of the most static films ever made. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Audience Member Interesante documental sobre la mujer cineasta mas importante en la historia del Cine. Es una lastima que le haya tocado vivir en la epoca y/o pai­s en que vivio. De no haber sido por eso, ella podri­a haber hecho aun mas aportes al Cine de los que hizo. Una genio, una lastima. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member The film seems to be an accurate enough portrayal of a selfish artist genius. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member probably THE most controversial filmmaker of the 20th century, Leni Riefenstahl, 1902-2003. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/29/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl

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Movie Info

Synopsis Ray Müller directs this extensive documentary on the life of Nazi propaganda filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl. Created at the behest of Riefenstahl, the film honestly delves into her association with Hitler and the extent to which she knows of the Nazi Party's entire strategy. It also gives a fuller picture of Riefenstahl's life, discussing her ascent from dancer to documentary filmmaker, as well as her post-Nazi work, which includes nature filmmaking and photography.
Director
Ray Müller
Producer
Jacques de Clercq, Waldemar Januszczak, Hans Peter Kochenrath, Hans-Jürgen Panitz, Dimitri de Clercq
Screenwriter
Ray Müller
Distributor
Kino International Corp.
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
German
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 11, 1993, Original
Runtime
3h 2m
Sound Mix
Mono