This controversial film was created in 1934 during the Nuremburg rallies. Leni Reifenstahl, close friend of Hitler, directed it, claiming that it was a documentary simply capturing what ocurred at the convention.

However, it's known that Reifenstahl staged a great deal of it, going so far as having the speakers repeat their speeches because a reel of film had been ruined. She built miles of track for movie cameras to follow in order to film the events.

Also, this film raises the question of what a documentary really is. Obviously Reifenstahl really did film most of this at the rallies. However, what she chose to film, the sound-bytes she chose to use, the angles she shot, all prove that filmed history, even as documentary, is as subjective as written, textual, history

Reifenstahl claimes, "...there is no tendentious commentary for the simple reason that there is no commentary at all. It is history--pure history." (Sontag) But the fact of the matter is, every image, with or without words, is a little seductive piece of propaganda.

Summary:

Triumph of the Will captures the feel fo the Nuremburg rallies of 1934. Hitler arrives and is adored by the loyal members of the Nazi party, during parades, bonfires and speeches. He reviews his troops, both military and labor, and the parades of people in cultural dress. In the middle of the film, he and his top associates give sound-byte type speeches.