The Times had an article yesterday about a new edition of Triumph of the Will, Leni Riefenstahl’s gargantuan Nazi propoganda film, now out on DVD. The new Synapse DVD “comes from an excellent 35-millimeter fine-grain print and features a sustained commentary track by the historian Anthony Santoro, who identifies many of the minor players Riefenstahl glosses over while providing a necessary historical (and occasionally moral) context for the spectacle. A Riefenstahl short, Day of Freedom, has been included as an extra.” If you’ve never seen the film, now is the time. And get Alain Renais’ Night and Fog for a totally hard hitting, and perhaps balanced, double feature. They are both must see films of the documentary genre. Both films have changed me.

Also newly released is Andrew Douglas’ Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus. This film didn’t get much of a run here in the US - it really challenges the label documentary . If you are inclined toward roots or folk music, it is wonderful. It introduced me to Jim White who, like others in the film, at first appears to be of a certain uneducated, country variety, but Jim like all of the others in the film are actually wise and thoughtful in addition to their undeniable talent and zest. I’m still disappointed that many of my colleagues who saw this movie didn’t appreciate the true respect the filmmaker gave the characters - and yes, they are characters. It is a lush visual experience, the music is surreal, and if you can release yourself from appearances and expectations, the spoken word is divine.