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Leni Riefenstahl-Five Lives: A Biography in Pictures
One remarkable woman, five remarkable careers: Leni Riefenstahl is the exception to the rule. From dancer to actress to film-maker to photographer to diver, she has excelled in each field and is one of the most important and controversial artists of the 20th century. Her contributions to the art and technique of film-making were vast, most notably in her epochal film "Olympia" (1938). Critically acclaimed during the 1930's for her work under the Hitler administration and harshly criticized after the war, Riefenstahl surged on, completing the famous "Tiefland" in 1954. In the 1960s and 70s she traveled to Africa and extensively photographed East Africa and the Nuba tribes in Sudan, publishing three books. Ready for yet another change, she took up deep-sea diving at the age of 71, beginning a new chapter as an underwater photographer.Though she has attracted much attention throughout her life and has been the subject of many books, articles, and films, Leni Riefenstahl Five Lives is the first book to showcase her entire career in pictures. Produced in collaboration with Riefenstahl herself, the book includes her most famous images as well as many previously unpublished pictures from her private archives. The main body of the book features photographs (without text) spanning Riefenstahl's entire set of careers, with pictures of her on stage as a dancer and on the set as an actress and film-maker, as well as film stills and her own photographs (precise commentaries about the pictures can be found in the comprehensive appendix). The illustrated biography, international bibliography, and detailed filmography complement the illustrative section with extensive information about her personaland professional lives. Fans and critics alike will be impressed with this sweeping visual tribute.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 1, 2023
Leni Riefenstahl is clearly one of the most controversial figures of the 20th century.
However, many of their supposed opponents negatively influenced her image and created a myth of Riefenstahl itself.
She lived in the darkest era of German history, but of course it isn't her fault personally and doesn't make her a National Socialist at all.
Although she worked for the Nazis (and against her will) recorded and produced a few films for them, because Hitler was a huge fan of her and convinced her to do so...
The focus of her entire life's work should not only be on her works of the third reich, but rather on her achievements in the fields of film and photography.
However, many of their supposed opponents negatively influenced her image and created a myth of Riefenstahl itself.
She lived in the darkest era of German history, but of course it isn't her fault personally and doesn't make her a National Socialist at all.
Although she worked for the Nazis (and against her will) recorded and produced a few films for them, because Hitler was a huge fan of her and convinced her to do so...
The focus of her entire life's work should not only be on her works of the third reich, but rather on her achievements in the fields of film and photography.
January 28, 2008
She is frustrating and brilliant. This book offers some great insight into her contributions to film-making as well as intimate snapshots into her personal life. BUT, and this is a significant but, Leni was very involved in the publication of this book, so if you are looking for something objective, this isn't a good source. Still, for the first time you get to see some of the photos from her scuba-diving ventures later in life.
December 22, 2022
You can tell a book by its cover
The striking front cover of 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 adds to their striking appearance. Most are in grainy black and white with some color sections. This book is just a wee too large to fit on my oversized bookshelf. So I am making a larger shelf to display the book's front view.
Just as you assume that this is a great coffee table book you will find that there is more to 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 portrays s the different vocations of Leni. (Dancer, Actress, Director, Photographer, Diver)
This book also enhances the viewing experience of Leni's films.
The striking front cover of 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 adds to their striking appearance. Most are in grainy black and white with some color sections. This book is just a wee too large to fit on my oversized bookshelf. So I am making a larger shelf to display the book's front view.
Just as you assume that this is a great coffee table book you will find that there is more to 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 portrays s the different vocations of Leni. (Dancer, Actress, Director, Photographer, Diver)
This book also enhances the viewing experience of Leni's films.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews