Jodie Foster’s Riefenstahl Biopic: A Film That Almost Happened

LOS ANGELES, CA — Jodie Foster‘s ambition to create a biopic about Leni Riefenstahl, one of history’s most controversial filmmakers, spanned over a decade but ultimately fell short. Foster’s fascination with Riefenstahl, known for propaganda films like 1935’s ‘Triumph of the Will,’ sparked intense criticism and debate, especially from the Jewish community.

Foster’s interest in Riefenstahl began around the year 2000 when she publicly expressed her desire to explore the filmmaker’s complex life through a feminist lens. Riefenstahl, who passed away in 2003 at age 101, was often regarded as a pioneer for women in film, despite her notorious association with Nazi Germany.

“She was a tremendously gifted woman, but she made a lot of ugly choices at a terrible and horrible time in history,” Foster explained in an interview with the Telegraph. The actress emphasized that Riefenstahl deserved to be portrayed, citing her as one of the most both reviled and admired women of the 20th century.

Despite Foster’s intentions, her project was met with backlash from numerous critics, including Holocaust studies professor Dr. Rafael Medoff, who remarked, “There’s nothing morally complex about what Riefenstahl did as Hitler’s favorite filmmaker. The only thing complex is Foster’s confusion on this issue.” Foster’s acknowledgment of having spoken with Riefenstahl, whom she described as “an extraordinary woman – sharp as a tack and as beautiful as she ever was,” further fueled the controversy.

By 2005, despite the mounting criticism, Foster remained committed to her vision, asserting, “She wrote a biography that’s almost all lies, but it’s interesting. I wanted her archives, but I didn’t want her involvement.” Foster believed that while Riefenstahl’s writings were misleading, exploring her story was still important.

Eventually, Foster’s efforts to secure a suitable screenplay proved challenging, with Foster acknowledging in 2011 that the biopic was “dead in the water.” She mentioned the difficulty in crafting a narrative that balances Riefenstahl’s talent with her notorious past, stating, “I could never get the script right, and it was a lot of work on my part, many years.”

As Foster stepped away from the project, director Steven Soderbergh briefly took interest in the film but also chose to abandon it after concerns about its potential reception at the box office. The fate of these projects raises questions about the challenges filmmakers face when tackling ethically complex subjects.