Impressionen unter Wasser

''Impressionen unter Wasser'' (''Underwater Impressions aka Impressions of the deep'') is a documentary film released in 2002. It was directed by Leni Riefenstahl.

After the premiere of her film '' Tiefland'' in 1954, for decades it was generally thought this would be Riefenstahl's last film. However, a few days before her 100th birthday, saw the release of ''Impressionen unter Wasser'' (45 minutes, with an introduction by Riefenstahl) premiered in Berlin 48 years after ''Tiefland''.

Production history

''Impressionen unter Wasser'' is the final result of 30 years of underwater cinematography. In 1983 she described her intentions for the eventual film; "Underwater films are either scientific, like Jacques Cousteau's, or sensational, like the Hollywood shark films. But there are none like this one we plan."

Segments of her extensive marine footage were first shown to the public in the 1993 documentary, '' The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl'' which followed her recent expedition.

Release

''Impressionen unter Wasser'' had its premiere at ''Delphi am Zoo'', Berlin on 14 August 2002, a week before the celebrations for Leni's centenary birthday. It was broadcast the following day on the French/German ''Arte'' channel, together with an interview with Riefenstahl and an airing of the
original 1932 version of Riefenstahl's Das Blaue Licht. It was also featured at the 2003 Maui Independent Film Festival and the 2004 Oporto International Film Festival (Fantasporto).Leni Riefenstahl-director
The film was released on DVD in April 2003.

Synopsis

The marine-based documentary was mainly shot around Papua New Guinea and is a collection of footage directed by Riefenstahl between the 1970s and 2000. Other film locations included Maldive Islands the Seychelles, Kenya, Tanzania, Indonesia, the Red Sea, the Cocos Islands (Pacific) and the Caribbean Sea (Cuba). Riefenstahl dismissed claims that the film was a comeback; "Impressionen Unterwasser certainly isn't a 'comeback'. I was always active and continue to be so. My film shows the beauty of the underwater world. I hope it will touch the viewer's conscience as it illustrates just what the world will lose when nothing is done to stop the destruction of our oceans. I once said that I am very fascinated by the beautiful and the living. I seek harmony and, under water, I have eventually found it."

Riefenstahl also contributed to an introduction, discussing the work and her marine journeys.

Reception

The film attracted a mixed response from critics. The ''Tagesspiegel Daily'' wrote of the candy-coloured images and Riefenstahl's flowing blonde hair; "It's as if a pop artist on LSD painted it". '' Time Out'' magazine held a neutral view point, puzzled by the lack of commentary, as is characteristic of Riefenstahl films but was displeased by the Moroder-Walker score. Other critics compared the film to her famous 1938 film '' Olympia'' in that it reflects her ultimate pursuit of beauty. Contributing to the book ''501 Directors'', Dr. Ernest Mathijs, writer and film scholar cited the documentary as " final example of her creative genius." The cartoon ''A fish movie is shown'' (''Ein Fischfilm wird gezeigt'', 2004) by comic duo Katz & Goldt is set at Delphi cinema in Berlin where the film premiered.

References

External links

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{{Leni Riefenstahl

2002 films
2002 short documentary films
German short documentary films
Films without speech
Films directed by Leni Riefenstahl
Documentary films about nature
Films set in the Maldives
Films featuring underwater diving
Films shot in Papua New Guinea
Films shot in the Maldives
Films shot in Seychelles
Films shot in Kenya
Films shot in Tanzania
Films shot in Indonesia
Films shot in Cuba
Documentary films about Papua New Guinea
Documentary films about Asia
Documentary films about Africa
2000s German films