Time of Darkness and Silence
An investigation of Leni Reifenstahl’s infamous film production of “Teifland” during the holocaust, one which used Sinti extras under forced labor conditions. After filming finished in 1944, these extras were sent to Auschwitz. Josef Reinhardt interviews the survivors and perpetrators, wondering if Reifenstahl knew this would happen at the end of production. Teifland was filmed from 1940-1944 but was not released until 1954. This documentary aired on television only once in 1982 and is banned in Germany to this day.
Storyline
An investigation of Leni Reifenstahl’s infamous film production of “Teifland” during the holocaust, one which used Sinti extras under forced labor conditions. After filming finished in 1944, these extras were sent to Auschwitz. Josef Reinhardt interviews the survivors and perpetrators, wondering if Reifenstahl knew this would happen at the end of production. Teifland was filmed from 1940-1944 but was not released until 1954. This documentary aired on television only once in 1982 and is banned in Germany to this day.
