Individuality Defies the Party...

Leni Riefenstahl’s Triumph of the Will is very powerful in the fact that it shows the Nazi way of life as the 'natural' way of life. Thousands of individuals are shown not only respecting and responding positively to Hitler's ways, but also embracing and emulating his ways as their own. The various shot of hundreds of men with identical haircuts and uniforms was not filmed 'by chance', but was a demonstration that individuality defies the cause of the Nazi Party and one person's individual needs do not override the Party's needs as a whole. This is demonstrated in the speech used to introduce Hitler. The words "When Hitler moves... Germany moves" and "Hitler is Germany" are two examples of the Nazi goal of unification. Riefenstahl also uses the visual aids of children. Children welcoming Hitler not only provides Hitler with the father-like and charming figure, it also shows that the Nazi Party has a future because generations will learn to love it. If the ideal had been placed on just the adults, it would die when they died. Hitler knows this... which is why in the final speech, he emphasizes the German Youth and their importance. He also talks of the struggles Germany has seen because he knows this will make the citizens passionate for change. He speaks of a bright future and a cruel past. He gives hope to the German people by promising them that tomorrow will be better than yesterday.