The Triumph of the Will relies heavily on the visual. What actually gets said in the film, or, more specifically, in the final speech given by Hitler at the end of the film?
Hitler is basically admiting that this use of media is powerful, as he begins with the influence the party celebration has on millions. Hitler reinforces the idea of the struggle for the party to be what it is now (at time of film)again bringing up the idea of a revolution leading to the Nazi era. Hitler lists the two original goals of the Nazi party, to be the major party of Germany (accomplished) and to have a central ideology (implied as accomplished, but not explained.) It is as though it does not matter to the vast majority what the party ideology is, so therefore Hitler could ignore it in his speech, or that it was common knowledge. Hitler then creates a comparison of the Germans to steel, with the old defeated image of Germany departed and a new one abounding, caused by the purification (like steel) of the German people. These same people are further divided by the idea of a select few being in power, the Nazis, who will lead the German people in this purification process, for thus there is perfection. Essentially, it is a rallying cry that Hitler gives, not for any specific party idea, but for the idea of a cleansed version of Germany, ready to fight and win, as what caused the bad past is eradicated...
The visual power of the film seems to render Hitler's speech at the end of the film obsolete. It's not about what he's saying, but that he's speaking, that this great mass has been waiting for this and that they are utterly captivated by him. The film is portraying Hitler like a hero, painting him like a messiah that has come to save these masses. The visuals of this film focus mostly on showing massive amounts of people, the ranks, the women and children, the people lining the streets, everyone devoted to Hitler. Combining these images of the masses with the birds eye view of the city and the montage of peaceful shots of Nuremberg seems to allude to the idea that, here is this great, vast city, and all these people inhabiting it and Germany are devoted to Hitler. It makes it seem like Hitler's world. We never see simple pedestrians, no one that isn't watching and listening to Hitler or preparing for his arrival. It's obviously supposed to make the viewer feel that there is no one that doesn't agree with his vision, and therefore that the viewer should feel this way too. Riefenstahl reordered a lot of the footage that was taken over the 7 days and it was clearly a very deliberate decision to make the end scene Hitler's speech. It builds up the tension throughout the film, as if it were more than a documentary, but a movie with a climax. It leaves us with the visual of Hitler standing powerful and all-mighty above the people, a visual that attests to his godliness.
Hitler is basically admiting that this use of media is powerful, as he begins with the influence the party celebration has on millions.
ReplyDeleteHitler reinforces the idea of the struggle for the party to be what it is now (at time of film)again bringing up the idea of a revolution leading to the Nazi era.
Hitler lists the two original goals of the Nazi party, to be the major party of Germany (accomplished) and to have a central ideology (implied as accomplished, but not explained.)
It is as though it does not matter to the vast majority what the party ideology is, so therefore Hitler could ignore it in his speech, or that it was common knowledge.
Hitler then creates a comparison of the Germans to steel, with the old defeated image of Germany departed and a new one abounding, caused by the purification (like steel) of the German people. These same people are further divided by the idea of a select few being in power, the Nazis, who will lead the German people in this purification process, for thus there is perfection.
Essentially, it is a rallying cry that Hitler gives, not for any specific party idea, but for the idea of a cleansed version of Germany, ready to fight and win, as what caused the bad past is eradicated...
The visual power of the film seems to render Hitler's speech at the end of the film obsolete. It's not about what he's saying, but that he's speaking, that this great mass has been waiting for this and that they are utterly captivated by him. The film is portraying Hitler like a hero, painting him like a messiah that has come to save these masses. The visuals of this film focus mostly on showing massive amounts of people, the ranks, the women and children, the people lining the streets, everyone devoted to Hitler. Combining these images of the masses with the birds eye view of the city and the montage of peaceful shots of Nuremberg seems to allude to the idea that, here is this great, vast city, and all these people inhabiting it and Germany are devoted to Hitler. It makes it seem like Hitler's world. We never see simple pedestrians, no one that isn't watching and listening to Hitler or preparing for his arrival. It's obviously supposed to make the viewer feel that there is no one that doesn't agree with his vision, and therefore that the viewer should feel this way too.
ReplyDeleteRiefenstahl reordered a lot of the footage that was taken over the 7 days and it was clearly a very deliberate decision to make the end scene Hitler's speech. It builds up the tension throughout the film, as if it were more than a documentary, but a movie with a climax. It leaves us with the visual of Hitler standing powerful and all-mighty above the people, a visual that attests to his godliness.