Response to Triumph of the Will

This movie, even though it supported Nazism, was a very powerful film. Leni Riefenstahl's depiction of Hitler was one of high praise. The film was mostly backed with powerful music that added to the emotion that was being admitted in the scene. When she used a recording of speech, it was during addresses made by the leaders of Germany at this time. Each speech had the presenter up high, and the camera down low. This gave the effect of Hitler and the other generals, as larger than life people. Riefenstahl's use of repetition, played a large role in why this propaganda was so powerful. She would reinforce the idea that "Germany is Hitler, and Hitler is Germany." Repetition is a very common technique used in propaganda, and Riefenstahl definitely takes it to the next level. Another use of repetition, is with her style of filming. It is common for her to show larges crowds of everyday people cheering on Hitler. Then she will cut to another scene, then right back to these crowds again. By showing commoners reactions to Hitler, she is focusing her film on a specific audience. She is targeting these types of people and showing how great life can be if you follow his rule. Between these celebrations, Riefenstahl films the soldiers doing their routine for Hitler. They are all extremely organized, perfectly dressed and tidy, and they know exactly what to say and when to say it. By presenting this in her film, it shows her target audience how put-together their armed forces are. It represents what all of Germany could be under the rule of Hitler. This film is riddled with symbolism- not to mention the filming of well recognized Nazi symbols. The symbolism she lines her film with, is propagandist in itself, because it manipulates the way viewers see this film. Triumph of the Will, does an excellent job of persuading those who watch it. Even though we know the outcome of the war and the horror that Germany created, this film is still able to make us wonder when did everything change. The atmosphere in this film is not unlike many war-time films from America. It shows the happiness everyone feels, and their sense of hope. The film evokes this sense of confusion, at least for me, that follows the line of when did German's begin to realize they were fighting a losing battle, and if they even ever did.