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Synapse
Films - Triumph of the
Will
Synapse
was finally able to ship its long delayed DVD of Triumph des
Willens (released as Triumph of the Will) in mid April
2001. Certainly an anticipated title, it has been well placed in
high profile "new release" sections by store owners in
the greater Los Angeles area
Resolution
of this transfer is amazing. The bit rate is very high, as
evidenced by the picture quality. The transfer is from a
35mm fine grain print. Overall picture quality is excellent as is
the soundtrack which I qualify only by the deterioration of
existing prints.
Having used a
German language only vhs copy as my primary source for this film,
the ability to remove the subtitling is a real convenience for me.
Certainly the movie is of such a visual caliber that the titling
can become merely distracting when one is studying the film on its
own merits. The speeches by Hitler, Hess and Lutz are of
historical import (and mostly bear out Riefenstahl's claim that
there is little in the "message" of the film that is
objectionable) but as political speeches go, they are just that.
Synapse has
taken to explaining with their new titles who people are and the
locales, an enhancement over the original English
language releases. Again, this is illuminating but I would
recommend seeing this film without subtitles for the full effect
of its cinematic significance.
Secondary audio
commentary is provided by historian Anthony Santoro, PhD.
His comments are very useful and provide illumination on the
historical aspects of the Nuremberg rally , its participants and
the implications of each SA, SS, or other party group / leader who
appears. Most certainly a more studied audio track than that which
accompanied the Tag der Freiheit (or Day of Freedom)on
the Short film DVD series (vol 8). Day of Freedom is
available here in the Synapse release of Triumph of the
Will as a supplement.
However, there
is very little in Santoro's discussion about the cinematic
aspects of the film, which are legion. Perhaps an alternative
audio track with a couple of film art historians would have been in
order.
The prologue
music has modern titles which note who financed the film, where it
took place, who scored the music and transferred the DVD but oddly
lacks any reference to the film's director, Leni Riefenstahl. An
oversight that is significant when matched with the rather caustic
liner notes by
Roy Fumkes, Films in Review.
There is no
mistaking the "editorial" of Fumkes' commentary,
determined to view the film only as "artificiality" and
propaganda. Riefenstahl is painted merely as
an "artistic
opportunist" who's film may have "paved the bloody path
of
conquest" for Hitler and the Third Reich.
Although
alluded to in the DVD transfer credits, I could not locate the
still photography from MOMA on the disc. Main Menu page is simple
but well laid out. The clarity of the image and and
the film's artistry itself is what make this an attractive
package; the added features certainly are very good as well.
RATINGS
Picture
- Excellent
Sound
- Very Good
Content -
Excellent
Features
- Very Good
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