JOURNAL ARTICLE

Riefenstahl.

  • Published In: Cineaste, 2026, v. 51, n. 2. P. 65 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Liebman, Stuart 3 of 3

Abstract

This article reviews a 2024 documentary by Andres Veiel, produced by journalist Sandra Maischberger, that offers a comprehensive and archival-rich portrait of Leni Riefenstahl, the German filmmaker favored by Adolf Hitler during the Nazi era. Drawing on unprecedented access to Riefenstahl’s extensive archives, the film reveals new insights into her artistic achievements, personal contradictions, and her complicity with Nazi ideology, challenging her self-portrayal as apolitical and innocent. The documentary highlights her manipulation of truth, her relationships with Nazi leaders, and her controversial postwar legacy, including her denial of knowledge about Nazi crimes despite evidence to the contrary. Veiel’s approach uses Riefenstahl’s own words and images to subtly expose her evasions without overtly prosecuting her, presenting a nuanced but critical examination of her life and work. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:Cineaste. 2026/03, Vol. 51, Issue 2, p65
  • Document Type:Film/TV Criticism and Review
  • Subject Area:Biography
  • Publication Date:2026
  • ISSN:0009-7004
  • Accession Number:192132011
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