Background of Leni Riefenstahl
First of all, it must be said that her worldview and attitude to certain values was distorted due to the fate of Riefenstahl. For seven years, from 1926 to 1931, Leni Riefenstahl performed key roles in five Arnold Funk’s “mountain films” (Wikipedia 2022). The creative perception of the girl was predetermined by such work experience (Wikipedia 2022). The same contrast of physical and spiritual components, characteristic of the “mountain films” of the 1920s, will help to shape a similar directorial vision in the future in Triumph of the Will and especially Olympia (Wikipedia 2022). Having filmed the film Triumph of the Will, the girl was sure that this product of art was historically correct.
Reasons of Film Criticizing
However, this opinion is criticized by other people for several reasons. Riefenstahl’s key criteria were his own intuition and personal experience (Duiker and Spielvogel 2019). Based on this, the filming of the Triumph of the Will took place with the help of the vision of the world and the situation by the directors, omitting a number of significant events or facts (Wikipedia 2022). This fact allows us to assert that the author of the film was guided only by her own ideas about Hitler’s party and modern Germany, but not by historical events and principles.
Secondly, the UFA company, a propaganda organization, was engaged in marketing and promoting the movie. Hitler is shown as a multifaceted personality, welcoming and considering the ideas of ordinary people and the country as a whole. The Fuhrer speaks in the stands, towering over the heads of those present and even his inner circle. Thus, all scripting and directing methods were used to show the personality of Hitler in the best light and from vantage points. Accordingly, such art is propaganda but not a historical chronicle.
Effectiveness of Propaganda
It is worth highlighting the reasons for the high effectiveness of such a propaganda system in Germany. It is important to note that the German citizens supported the Fuhrer, because despite his aggressive foreign policy, he was an effective manager of the country (Duiker and Spielvogel 2019). There was a series of reforms that rapidly improved the lives of ordinary people. For example, birch workers and beggars have fallen to record levels. In addition, the propaganda system was effective, which did not provide an alternative opinion on important issues (Duiker and Spielvogel 2019). Accordingly, the majority of the population did not have examples for comparison; the management of the Fuhrer seemed the most acceptable scenario. In addition, citizens had many everyday problems, which left no time for critical thinking or an objective assessment of government actions (Duiker and Spielvogel 2019). The combination of these factors predetermined the excessive gullibility of the population and the fact that the Germans did not notice the reverse side of the current regime.
Two Scenes of Hitler’s Presentation to Society
Almost the entire film Triumph of the Will is devoted to the exaltation of the current government and presenting it to the public as an exceptionally positive and effective movement. For a vivid illustration of this thesis, it is necessary to consider two scenes from this film. The viewer sees a plane flying over the city immediately after the opening prologue (Riefenstahl 1935). Using the symbolism of Nazi paraphernalia, the author combines several metaphorical meanings into one (Riefenstahl 1935). As Hitler’s air transport dominates the clouds and sunbeams, the montage gives way to shots of rivers of people flowing into Nuremberg. The shadow from the plane also performs a symbolic function since the essence of the scene is to compare the Fuhrer with an eagle.
Another scene that glorifies the Fuhrer is the moment when, after the red carpet welcome, the city of Nuremberg wakes up. This act shows how Hitler receives numerous gifts and gifts like a hero of the nation, whom the people adore and are devoted to him in the name of labor and the country (Riefenstahl 1935). Hitler’s handshake symbolizes that he is not only a national leader, but a native of the people.
References
Duiker, William J. and Spielvogel, Jackson J. 2019. The Essential World History, Volume II: Since 1500, Ninth Edition. Boston, Mass.: Cengage Learning.
Riefenstahl, Leni. 1935. Triumph of the Will. Daily Motion.
Wikipedia. 2022. Leni Riefenstahl.