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The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl

Play trailer Poster for The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl 1993 3h 2m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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96% Tomatometer 26 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 Dec 9, 2017
... it is her unforgettable and, for many, unforgivable achievements in behalf of Hitler that give the program its force. Go to Full Review Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader Mar 14, 2007
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. Go to Full Review Vincent Canby New York Times Aug 30, 2004
3.5/5
Sometimes clunky but consistently fascinating. Go to Full Review André Didyme-Dôme Rolling Stone en Español Sep 11, 2026
This more personal and autobiographical approach gives Riefenstahl a platform to tell her side of the story, insisting that her work was not propaganda, but pure art. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Joan Juliet Buck Vogue Feb 29, 2024
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. Go to Full Review Lawrence Frascella The Advocate Apr 19, 2022
This documentary should prove as fascinating to armchair psychologists as it is to film enthusiasts. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Aug 17, 2015 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 See more Nov 30, 2012 How did I never learn about this woman in school? See more Aug 26, 2012 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. See more Aug 26, 2012 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. See more Aug 25, 2012 The film seems to be an accurate enough portrayal of a selfish artist genius. See more Sep 15, 2011 probably THE most controversial filmmaker of the 20th century, Leni Riefenstahl, 1902-2003. See more Read all reviews
The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl

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Cast & Crew

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Ray Müller

Director

Leni Riefenstahl

Self

Ray Müller

Writer

Jacques de Clercq

Producer

Waldemar Januszczak

Producer

Hans Peter Kochenrath

Producer

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The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl

The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl (1993) View more photos

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
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