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Leni's Rising Star Leni's Rising Star

A Celebration of the Cinematic Spirit
of Leni Riefenstahl
Leni's Rising Star (Home)
A Dancer's Odyssey
Early Films Featuring Leni Riefenstahl
Films Directed by Leni Riefenstahl
Wege zu Kraft und Schönheit
Der heilige Berg
Der große Sprung
Das Schicksal derer von Habsburg
Die weiße Hölle vom Piz Palü
Stürme über dem Montblanc
Der weiße Rausch
Das blaue Licht
SOS Eisberg
Triumph des Willens
Olympia
Tiefland
Impressionen unter Wasser
Downloads
LEN-E Discussion List
Resources
Guestbook & Contact
Credits

Welcome to Leni's Rising Star! This web site was created as both a celebration of the August 22nd, 2002, centennial of Leni Riefenstahl's birth, and as an on-going, long-term — if not eternal — celebration of her career as a screen actress and film director.

Leni Riefenstahl's work in film was by no means the only artistic endeavour that she pursued in her life — she was also a dancer, photographer, writer, SCUBA diver, and an all-'round adventurer, each of which she accomplished on a world-class scale — however, the focus of this web site is on her work in film (more specifically, feature films and documentaries). This is not simply because of the revolutionary achievements that she made in that area and the wondrous artistry and vision which her genius was able to bring forth upon the silver screen, but because it was the medium that she loved, the medium in which she herself was loved, which brought her to the heights of stardom, fame and acclaim all over Europe and all over the world — and yet which was also the ultimate cause of her fall from grace.

Although Leni starred in and/or directed eleven full-length films — in addition to the 2002 release of her twelfth film, Impressionen unter Wasser (her first film in almost half a century) — it was essentially because of only one film, Triumph des Willens, that she ultimately became castigated and accused of things that she never believed, let alone even considered, and even less ever took part in. Through even the most cursory overview and examination of all of the Riefenstahl films, however, a more realistic understanding of where she was coming from — and what it was that she really aspired to — will be found. By providing such a survey in both words and pictures, we can effectively and objectively allow her films to speak for themselves, and let it no longer be required of Leni that she forever have to justify whatever film(s) she might have made, but rather allow the films to justify — and validate — her.

With this greater awareness, one might only discover that even in her own admitted error, naiveté and deep regret for the work which she did for the Nazi party (half a decade before World War II began), no one could have foreseen — let alone imagined — what was yet to come, and even if one could have had such virtually supernatural foresight, the fact remains that any reasonably sympathetic and objective review can only lead one to the conclusion that in both her heart and in her deed, Leni meant no harm.

Leni Riefenstahl meant no harm.

Through that simple understanding can only come genuine forgiveness for any mistake that she might have made — indeed, through that can only come the recognition that she has so long deserved, and from that recognition and acknowledgement can only come the greatest admiration and deepest respect for all the good things, all the beautiful, magnificent and truly timeless things, that she has brought to the screen for this world to behold.

And all one has to do is look — just look.

Site Map

The essential structure of the site is as follows...

Web & Graphic Design
by
Psymon
www.psymon.com

| Home | | A Dancer's Odyssey | | Early Films Featuring Leni | | Films Directed by Leni |
| Downloads | | LEN-E Discussion List | | Resources | | Guestbook & Contact | | Credits |

All original text copyright © Ron Koster / Leni's Rising Star,
except as otherwise noted.
All original icons, graphics, layout and typography of this entire site
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