Outline the main events in the career of Leni Riefenstahl from the 1920's to 1945.
Helene (Leni) Bertha Amalie Riefenstahl was born on 22nd August 1902 in her parent's apartment in Berlin. Growing up, her main aspiration was to be able to dance on stage, even though it was against her fathers will. At the age of 21, Leni performed her first solo dance recital in Berlin in 1923, but her dreams of becoming a dancer were shattered time and time again by injuries.
However, this misfortune led to her new found love of cinematography after she came across an advertisement for Arnold Fanck's new film "Mountain of Destiny". Riefenstahl became transfixed by Fanck's film and was so impressed she decided to visit the Dolomites for herself. While there, she chanced upon Fanck and his lead actor (who later became her husband) Luis Trenker. This in turn led to Leni starring in the "Holy Mountain" (1926).
The Holy Mountain encountered an immeasurable amount of difficulties during production due to bad weather, injuries etc. These misfortunes proved to be advantageous to Riefenstahl who took the opportunity to learn about editing, developing and printing film. She also ceased the opportunity to do work behind the camera when Fanck had to return to Berlin.
By the end of the 1920's, Riefenstahl had decided that directing would be a better career. Over the next few years, she met several eminent German film directors such as George W. Pabst and Josef von Sternberg, whom she aspired to learning the film craft. She was then able to work and learn with distinguished director, Pabst, after persuading Fanck to hire Pabst in the filming of "The White hell of Piz Palu" (1929). .
When appearing in Fanck's film's, Riefenstahl had the opportunity to stand behind the camera on a number of occasions, which provided stepping stones to her first work of direction. In 1931, Riefenstahl made her directing debut with the Bergfilm, "The Blue Light".
