Leni Riefenstahl's foray into the world of entertainment began with an experiential experiment, as she sought to comprehend the sensations of dancing on a theatrical stage. Her burgeoning success as a dancer gradually transitioned into film acting, after captivating the attention of renowned film director Arnold Fanck, who subsequently featured her in several of his mountaineering picture productions. Under Fanck's guidance, Riefenstahl began to hone her skills as a filmmaker.
Her artistic inclinations garnered widespread acclaim and numerous awards for her cinematic endeavors across the European continent. However, it was her work on the documentary "Triumph of the Will" (1935),commissioned by the Nazi government to showcase Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich, that would ultimately become a significant source of controversy and regret. Despite her assertions to the contrary, Riefenstahl was perceived as an integral component of the Third Reich's propaganda machinery. Condemned by the international community, she did not produce another film for over five decades, her reputation forever tainted by the atrocities of World War II.
