Ray Müller
Documentary filmmaker Ray Müller is best known for his examination of the life of German filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl in Leni Riefenstahl im Sudan and the prize-winning Die Macht der Bilder: Leni Riefenstahl (The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl). The latter has become known for its pugnacious attitude vis-a-vis Riefenstahl, who insists on having been interested only in questions of aesthetics, not politics. In an intriguing blend of historical research and contentious interviews with the filmmaker, Müller leaves open the question of guilt, responsibility, and accountability of the artist. He is a member of the Board of the German Writers Guild and the German Directors Guild, as well as the German Academy of Motion Pictures. Hosted by the German Department during his residency, Müller joined Professor Tony Kaes in teaching the graduate seminar, “Riefenstahl: Film and Fascism.”