Just Announced
International Art House Series
Making its Bloomington premiere, Riefenstahl is an arresting and vital film that explores the limits of denial, political evasion, and self-preservation. Not to be missed!
Filmmaker and Nazi propagandist Leni Riefenstahl is considered one of the most controversial filmmakers of the 20th century. While Riefenstahl spent decades after the war denying her association with Nazism and claiming ignorance of the Holocaust, during her long post-war life she remained unapologetic, managing to control and shape her legacy. Meanwhile, her work experienced a renaissance, gaining esteem for its masterful technical skill. Riefenstahl examines the life, work, and legacy of the filmmaker using never-before-seen documents from her estate, including private films, photos, recordings and letters, uncovering fragments of her biography and placing them in an extended historical context. In an era where fascism is on the rise again, fake news is prevalent, and the meaning of political imagery is constantly dissected and debated, this mesmerizing new film shows that Leni Reifenstahl is more relevant than ever. [115 min; documentary; German with English subtitles]
This screening is supported by the Institute for European Studies, a Jean Monnet EU Centre of Excellence.
"A textured, complex portrait that feels close to definitive; a slice of dark history that speaks (eloquently, implicitly) to present-day tensions." — The Guardian
"A damning and irrefutable portrait of the filmmaker... This is a masterclass on how to reveal the truth about someone who spent their entire life denying it... Riefenstahl is a marvel." — The Daily Beast
"Coolly damning... shrewdly edited. A welcome addition to the historically grounded rebukes to Riefenstahl and her apologists." — The New York Times
Any film screened at IU Cinema may contain content that viewers find sensitive or upsetting. Visit our Audience Advisories page to learn more.
