Jodie Foster to star in Leni Riefenstahl biopic

This is a film that might be controversial, but so are many others. There are also countless films that ought to be controversial and they cause barely a ripple! There's no reason to avoid making this movie just because the subject was a Nazi supporter. Let's just see what Jodie does with it At any rate, it's a good sign that Jodie refused to give Riefenstahl any leeway to whitewash her story.

By the by, she looks good!

 Riefenstahl was a very gifted film maker. I was exposed to her work in college. I first saw "Triumph of the Will" in a World History  101 course, though, of course a very disturbing subject matter, it is exceedingly powerful. I then got kind of an evil narcotic addiction to her work.

Of course, if Jodie is going to star in the biopic this kind of thing  is always good news:)

 But, I also think probably Riefenstahl is a very complex woman, and could better be portrayed by an actor of the depth of Jodie Foster rather than Sharon Stone.

However, I find it is interesting that she heself thought Miss Stone would do a better portrayl. Was this just jealousy of a fellow film maker? Perhaps she thought Stone's personality to be better suited.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to this one.

I have never been a "star-struck" person, but I have always admired Jodie Foster. She's so intelligent, beautiful and talented!

I am looking forward to seeing what she does with this film.
Oh...and I somehow imagine that there must be a reason why Jodie Foster has waited until after Leni Riefenstahl's passing to begin this project. I trust her judgment. 

What an amazing woman!
*desirous sigh* 

I read the book, and seen the documentary. I hope that the film delves into the prevailing psyche of germans who participated in the axis war effort.

if you have seen the doc, it seems that leni was in complete denial over her roll in the whole thing, like she couldn't fathom that her documentaries were propaganda for the mindset that led to the extermination of millions. or perhaps she just didn't want to admit anything.

I’m not sure about “lionizing” Riefenstal.  Her propaganda was pretty blatant and she died unrepentant, still denying her complicity with the Nazis.   But as a subject, Leni’s definitely worth exploring.  She was a fascinating woman.  I’d also like to see the film delve into the german psyche.    

From the article:

“If any film about Riefenstahl condemns her outright, then it will end up being a very black and white morality tale. If you have shades of grey it might make a better film…” Professor Gavriel Rosenfeld.

I couldn’t agree more.   I'd like to see her portayed as the full, complex woman that she was.

I also think if Riefenstahl had been able to say - 30, 40, even 50 yrs after the war - "I made a mistake, I was young, I drank the kool aid," whatever, her career might’ve turned out quite differently.   She might’ve been able to overcome her past. 

I'll watch it. I don't care what it's about. Even The Accused was good for me.

The only one I didn't like was Anna And The King. If it had been Anna And The Queen....

Anyway, I HEART Jodi

Interesting that Riefenstahl chose Sharon Stone over Jodie.   And wise of Jodie to wait til she was dead.  

The problem is with living within history, when things are happening and you don't have the luxury to look back and be smart about it, that you never have The Choice to make. You just go day after day and seems like things are happening to you. You only have small choices the big one only can be seen from a distance. So I think we are no better or smarter than anyone we condemn, we are just farer away than them and we see choices where their vision was blurred by the will to survive this way or another.

But it does not mean that I would like to see the glorification of a nazi she was! But I would love to see a movie with a strong lead character who is a woman and a legitimate story and all the shades of gray you can squeez in two hours.

And by the by: I also think that Sharon Stone would have been a better choice: I am affraid that Jodie will overdramatize the story. The commonness of Sharon Stone would suite the movie just right, and with good directing and minimalist acting she would be able to portray the everyday-everyman nature of evil and the will to survive.

When Foster was negociating for this role with Leni - Leni was thrilled that it was Jodie playing as her. She even braged about it. The honeymoon came to an end when Foster refused to let Leni have final approval on the shooting script. Only Foster had the final say.

From then on...She wanted Sharon Stone and not Foster. So I dont believe it was about looks and who she thought was a better actress. She knew Foster was better and more respected but Foster didnt play by her rules.

Foster is perfect for this role. I can't see anyone else with this role.

Even Blanchett (who i love) doesnt have that Strong Woman/Director vibe that Leni needs. Blanchett would rock as Marlene Dietrich though.

I was referring to the use of German psyche in the post directly above mine. Not to yours!

Still, can really recommend fromm's book on the context you are refering to!

i not only want to see strong women in film, i also want to see strong, complex, and yes, even terribly flawed women in film as well.

obviously we have to wait for the final cut of the film to see how Riefenstahl is portrayed, and given Jodie's invovement, I am intensely curious. i am appalled, like anyone with any empathy is, about what the Nazis did. but i don't think we should throw the baby out with the bathwater by ignoring the opportunity to delve into the mindset of someone who had such a hand in swaying the minds of a people to allow it.

it's too easy to explain away the Nazi aggression/atrocities with references to insanity. it's much more difficult to REALLY look deeply into that time and the circumstances surrounding what happened in germany and because of it, and see that these were normal people, just like us, who allowed themselves to be a part of something truly horrible.

this was a culture of great intellectual, scientific, and artistic accomplishment. i think the most relevant thing here is to understand why. why did intelligent, decent people allow a merciless dictator to plunge them into war and demonize and murder millions of people? we may never know for sure, but if we do not dissect the time and the people involved, and reach deep into our own selves and find the similarities...then our ignorance of ourselves and our capability for rationalization and complacence will be the catalyst for history repeating itself.

"Frankly, when I watched "Triumph of the Will," and saw Hitler's many references to religion and God's Will, I couldn't help but see comparison's with George W. Bush and the current administration,"

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What complete and utter nonsense. The attacks on the Bush administration are so ridiculously over-the-top.

I'm with Hollywood Marie, I too cannot believe the comments here, lionizing a nazi as a "strong" woman. She was evil, period. If the film is going to portray her as such, fine, if it is going to glorify her, then Jodie Foster is a disgrace who ought to be ashamed of herself.

I can feel a "Producers" moment coming on. Springtime for Hitler anyone? 

I think we can safely say Foster has her work cut out for her making this one work... I'm probably going to have to hand back my toaster oven for saying this, but I haven't liked any film she's has made, so I expect I'll avoid this one regardless.

But I wonder who'll make the movie about Jodie Foster's life? And who'll play her? And whose version will it be??

Not Only But Also

Leni was a brilliant artist but also a human who made mistakes. You can't separate one from another and quite frankly it only makes her more interesting. I'm sure Jodie can appreciate that and concentrate on filming a story about a fenomenally gifted artist.

I think this film will be brilliant and i can guarentee you i will be going to watch it. Now that doesnt mean i was a fan of Leni in fact i am fascianated with her and how so long afterwards she still continued to lie about different things such as Triumph of the will being propaganda whether or not she intented the film to be propaganda th fact is it was used for that purpose so why later deny it! I think everyone should watch the film the wonderful horrible life of Leni Riefenstahl and then watch this new film. My only hope is that Jody Foster is not a massive fan on Leni Riefenstahl as i however believe that she is a Nazi and not just a Nazi sympathiser and that she was like everyone at the time while things were going good you didnt complain you went along with them and after everything happened and they lost WWII she realised that what they did was wrong but she should have just come out and said that rather than lying as it gives her a very very bad image and makes it seem as if she has something to hide. The head of our Catholic Church at present benedict was in the Hitler Youth but he has never denied it and look where he is at the top and i believe that if Leni had admitted it she would have gained alot more support. Also another question up for debate how everyone says that she was a brilliant film maker do u believe that she still would have been as famous or do you believe that Hitler made her famous i will leave that one with you!

Hi Hayden,

concerning the 'famous'-debate you'd like to start:

Riefenstahl had been famous - as an actor as well as director (The Blue Light), long before she collaborated with Hitler.If it's due to anyone but her and her talent, it's Arnold Fanck, not Hitler, who made Riefenstahl one of the major stars of Weimar cinema. Hitler only made her infamous ...

How fleeting are all human passions compared with the massive continuity of ducks.

—Dorothy Sayers, Gaudy Night