Triumph of the Will (Special Edition)

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German \- English subtitled \- The film, realized by Paul Joseph Goebbels, Hitler\x27s Reich Minister for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda, was created to influence all of Germany to support the power of the Nazi Party. All during World War II, in every theatre in Germany, either part of, or all of, TRIUMPH OF THE WILL was shown. An historically significant and, at times, horrifyingly manipulative exercise in propaganda for the Nazi regime, TRUMPH OF THE WILL continues to be controversial. This historical document has been unavailable in German for decades. Until her death in 2003, Riefenstahl was under fire for her personal relationship with Adolph Hitler, spending her life in the shadow of collaborating with the Nazi Party. Bonus features include: The Leni Riefenstahl short film, DAY OF FREEDOM (17 min.), Original German language with newly translated removable English subtitles, 2005 Digitally Remastered Windowboxed Transfer from a 35mm Fine Grain Element, Audio Commentary by Historian Dr. Anthony Santoro

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Triumph of the Will is one of the most important films ever made. Not because it documents evil--more watchable examples are being made today. And not as a historical example of blind propaganda--those (much shorter) movies are merely laughable now. No, Riefenstahl's masterpiece--and it is a masterpiece, politics aside--combines the strengths of documentary and propaganda into a single, overwhelmingly powerful visual force. Riefenstahl was hired by the Reich to create an eternal record of the 1934 rally at Nuremberg, and that's exactly what she does. You might not become a Nazi after watching her film, but you will understand too clearly how Germany fell under Hitler's spell. The early crowd scenes remind one of nothing so much as Beatles concert footage (if only their fans were so well behaved!). Like the fascists it monumentalizes, Triumph of the Will overlooks its own weaknesses--at nearly two hours, the speeches tend to drone on, and the repeated visual motifs are a little over-hypnotic, especially for modern viewers. But the occasional iconic vista (banners lining the streets of Nuremberg, Hitler parting a sea of 200,000 party members standing at attention) will electrify anyone into wakefulness. --Grant Balfour