[LEN-E] J. FOSTER (+ Nightmare Years)

[John]

Hi Luc,

I did an internet search a few weeks ago and the most recent information 
I found was this, dated April 30:

"The on-again, off-again project has been in the works for at least 
seven years, but now a script is being written - by British writer 
Rupert Walters - and a director is being negotiated. People involved in 
the movie say the director should be announced within two or three 
months and shooting should start by the end of next year at the latest. 
'I am hoping to be shooting before then,' said Gabriele Bacher, a 
producer at Primary Pictures, who will make the film along with Foster's 
own company."

To my knowledge, however, a director has not yet been signed or announced.

I am looking forward to seeing what Foster does with the story, 
especially since she has delcared herself to be an admirer of Riefenstahl.

A few weeks ago, just for fun, I compiled all the "Riefenstahl" scenes 
from the TNT telemovie THE NIGHTMARE YEARS together onto DVD from my old 
VHS tapes.  (Those scenes were cut from the commercial VHS release, I 
would suspect due to a lawsuit by LR.  However, they DID air on TV in 
the USA).  To my suprise, there was some 32 minutes of the Riefenstahl 
character (pointedly re-named "Filmmaker Helga Bauer" of course).  She 
was played by British actress Frances Barber, and Barber did a good job, 
I thought, with what she was given.  Of course it was presented as a 
one-dimensional totally ambition-driven character, guilty of misplaced 
loyalty to Hitler, so it was not written as a well rounded character. 
But it is interesting to see this portrayl, and to see Leni "in action" 
doing her filmmaking work (well, sort of).  :-)


Best wishes,
John