Customer Reviews

The Last of the Nuba

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Leni Riefenstahl is a beautiful photographer. Sadly, her talents and reputation have been tarnished by the fact that she made the propaganda film that helped Adolf Hitler come to power: TRIUMPH OF THE WILL. Riefenstahl claims that she was unaware of Hitler's plans, but this association still taints her name and all works she would later produce, including LAST OF THE NUBA. Some accused Riefenstahl of having a "fascist aesthetic" because the athletic and well proportioned members take center stage in LAST OF THE NUBA, while the elders and women of the tribe are largely ignored.

Controversy aside, this is a beautiful book. The Nuba are a beautiful people, and Riefenstahl's talents are up to the task of capturing it. Some pictures are black-and-white, but they are mostly color reproductions with a slight golden hue. They have a very gritty feel to them, which is excellent for depicting a group of men whose lives often revolve around wrestling; there are many shots of the wrestlers in action.

Unarguably, one of the greatest photo books ever. Criticize Riefenstahl as you may, but if she hadn't been there then and done what she did, these elegant people would be gone without a trace. The text is as fascinating as are the images.

What a magnificent eye she has. Cinema's loss, photography's gain. She approaches the Nuba with a sense of wonder as well as a seasoned perspective. Her love for her subject is uncompromising. Their beauty is her beauty.