MUBI

Although long, tedious, and Hitler sucks, the film is worth it in terms of the technical aspects of film making. Leni Riefenstahl did a good job.

The highlight of this documentary was the Sieg Heils. Besides the funny, awkward march of the SA and SS men, workers, and children and Hitler’s tantrum-like speech at the end, every German at that time parading the ridiculous salute (right arm diagonally raised and suspended forward) was like a one-arm-raised zombie.

Riefenstahl was a true genius with her technical ability behind the camera. She lived in a time and place we may never understand with total control over all media and imagery. The propaganda film in all it’s glorification of the nazi’s should now and forever be seen a warning to never let this happen again and to protect the freedom of expression and art that many of us enjoy. The beauty of the film truly defines the horror behind it.

This film brings up an interesting question for me : How do you rate a horrifying piece of propaganda like Triumph of The Will? Does one rate it based on it’s unbelievable technical mastery, scope, and shear cinematic accomplishment? Or should the rating also hinge on what you know the intention behind the film is? Beyond revealing the obvious limitations of the ‘5-star’ rating of films, this question also lacks a definite answer for me. If I were to rate it on shear value as both a politically and cinematically historic document, I would have to give it the highest rating. But in terms of rating it against all of the other formidable, all time, cinematic accomplishments in grand illusion and propaganda, there are so many equally well made films made by people who are ummm…well, NOT in collaboration with Nazis. I suppose I can ponder this all day, but I think this one will still remain beyond rating systems for me.