One remarkable women, five remarkable careers: Leni Riefenstahl is the exception to the rule, she has excelled in each field and is one of the most important and controversial artists of the 20th century.
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Leni Riefenstahl: Five Lives traces the fascinating and controversial life and work of the famous German photographer/filmmaker. Riefenstahl started her creative career as an aspiring dancer in the 1920s in Germany and then became a movie actress. She starred in a number of films, taking challenging roles that were sometimes dangerous and physically rigorous, such as the ice-bound and skiing roles in Storm Over Mont Blanc, The White Flame and SOS Iceberg. These outdoor films foretold the spirit of adventure which later guided Riefenstahl's photography career.
The crux of controversy that overshadows Riefenstahl's career is her hand-picked appointment, by Adolf Hitler, to direct the infamous National Socialist Party rally film, Triumph of the Will. Although, according to her memoirs, Riefenstahl tried to withdraw from the film, she created a film that depicted Hitler's plane descending from the clouds as if it carried a god and she has been accused "of having significantly increased, by means of this film, the emotional bond of the Germans to Hitler". Riefenstahl then went on to direct the German film Olympia covering the 1936 Olympics. With World War II came great change and Riefenstahl's eventual imprisonment by the French. In her later years she continued her photography career by documenting her trips to Africa and getting her scuba licence in her 70s. Her close-up underwater pictures of sea life float like a dream in vivid colour. As damning as her association with the Nazis is, Riefenstahl is a complex and talented artist. This book is full of remarkable images of her acting and directorial career as well as her still-photography. Includes a detailed biography of her life and career complete with family and personal pictures.--JP Cohen
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By bernie
VINE™ VOICE
The striking front cover on this book is a publicity still as Junta, in the movie "The Blue Light" 1932. As impressive as the cover is, it gets better when you open it to reveal hundreds of artistically shot photos. Dr. Ruth says bigger is not necessarily better. However in this case it is; something about the size of the photographs add to their striking appearance. Most are in grainy black and white with some color sections. This book is just a wee to large to fit in my oversized bookshelf. So I am making a larger shelf to display the books front view.
Just as you assume that this is a great coffee table book you will find that there is more too it. Luckily the pictures are not cluttered or distracted by alpha pneumonics. All the descriptions are in a separate section. The title of the book is appropriate as it portray s the different vocations of Leni. (Dancer, Actress, Director, Photographer, Diver)
This book also enhances the viewing experience of Leni's films.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.7 out of 5 stars
13 reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Perhaps I'm being down-right mean but...
12 Mar 2001
By K. S. Sibbald
- Published on Amazon.com
... Taschen in cooperation with Leni have produced a magnificent book - there's no disputing that! I especially appreciated the large stills from Leni's early movies and thought the grainy look on matt paper an appropriate way to present them. For people who are unfamiliar with Riefenstahl's work this book serves well as a visual "Sampler" - in that purpose it is ***** (5 star). Being familiar as I am with all of Leni's photo books, I would much rather a publisher like Taschen pick up the rights and re-publish "Olympia", "The People of Kau" and "Nuba" - any of these books is a far more essential purchase than "Five Lives". Also worth reading is "Sieve of Time" - Leni Riefenstahl's memoir. The photos from "Triumph of the Will" and "Olympia" -good as they are- don't (and can't) convey the power of the movies from which they came. If you haven't seen these movies, rent or buy the videos.......oh how I'd love to see restored prints of these movies on the big screen! This book is worth buying for those unfamiliar with Riefenstahl's work...and for those wanting an overview of her work in a single volume. But to really appreciate her work......seek out her out-of-print books!
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Renaissance Woman of the 20th century....
27 April 2001
By claus_byrial@hotmail.com
- Published on Amazon.com
First off, I must give praise to Angelika Taschen for publishing this grand, aesthetic book featuring stills of the life and work of misunderstood renaissance-woman Leni Riefenstahl... What a bold, beautiful result it has become... Personally I would have weighted the pictures of the "Triumpf des Willens"/"Olympia" period more in favour of the later Riefenstahl works, but none the less, this is a brilliant "from the cradle to the grave" document of the amazing life and art of Leni... (Although Leni actually, to the best of my knowledge, isn't dead yet...She is approaching her 100th year of existance!....) Like Ernst Jünger, who lived to be 102 year old!, Leni Riefenstahl seem to transcend both time and history....
"How could I not admire you, for you are the genius of film and have raised it to heights seldom achieved." Jean Cocteau
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hollywood couldn't invent it
29 Jun 2002
By Alan Dean Foster
- Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase
A biography in pictures of arguably the most influential female film-maker in the history of the medium...though all too many people in the industry are afraid to admit to it. Made the greatest propaganda film in history (unfortunate choice of subject matter) and the most important and influential sports documentary of all time (Olympia). Dancer, actress, director, producer, still photographer, underwater cinematographer...an astounding list of accomplishments driven by a desire to perceive and record the world around her has compelled Leni Riefenstahl since the beginning of the twentieth century.
Oversized, handsomely produced volume (typical Taschen quality) is packed with rare photographs and fascinating commentary. Note: sparkle in eyes of 19-year old dancer and 99-year old legend is exactly the same.
Oversized, handsomely produced volume (typical Taschen quality) is packed with rare photographs and fascinating commentary. Note: sparkle in eyes of 19-year old dancer and 99-year old legend is exactly the same.
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4.7 out of 5 stars
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