The Ecstasy of Leni Riefenstahl: 'Triumph of the Will'
This episode explores Leni Riefenstahl's "Triumph of the Will"(1935) as both a landmark in cinematic innovation and a chilling demonstration of fascist aesthetics in their purest form. Directed by Riefenstahl, the film is less a historical document than a sacred text of Nazi ideology—one that transforms politics into religion, mass into myth, and submission into beauty.
We examine how fascism uses spectacle to overwhelm critical thought, offering audiences not arguments but ritualized emotion. Through architecture, lighting, choreography, and montage, "Triumph of the Will" doesn't persuade—it anoints. Riefenstahl’s camera doesn’t show Hitler taking power. It shows that he already reigns, divinely ordained by unity and desire.
It's not a pleasant filmgoing film experience, but we felt it necessary to discuss it.
Fascism on Film Podcast
What do movies teach us about fascism?
From propagandistic myths of power to stories of suffering and belonging, cinema has long chronicled the many faces of fascism. Films don’t just reflect history or envision the future; they help shape it, revealing how authoritarian movements seduce, normalize, and endure, and at what cost to our humanity.
Fascism on Film Podcast explores these connections one episode at a time. Each season (10–15 episodes) tackles a different facet of fascism on screen. Season 1 looks at pre‑war fascism, examining both notorious propaganda and lesser‑known works of resistance.
Hosted by writers and lifelong cinephiles James Kent and Teal Minton, the show blends sharp analysis with decades of shared filmgoing experience to uncover how art, ideology, and history intertwine.
Music courtesy www.classicals.de.
- No. of episodes: 6
- Latest episode: 2025-07-28
- TV & Film History Film History
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