Review of The Birth of a Nation (1915) by Chris G — 16 Jan 2010

"The Birth of a Nation" is the one that started it all as this was the first American feature length film and what a way to start it off. This three hour epic has all the qualities required to make a classic film; A storyline that interests, excites and thrills the audience, intriguing and interesting characters, memorable scenes and of course an hint of controversy. The controversy that surrounds this film is the main reason for why it is so famous or perhaps we should say, infamous. The representation of African-Americans within the film and the rise of the Ku Klux Klan is what makes this film so controversial and difficult. However, these are quite possibly the most fascinating and, in an unfortunate twist, the greatest moments within this early blockbuster. An example of this includes the black people's revolt on the South towards the film's climax when the KKK travel rapidly on horse to save their sacred land from the terror of the blacks'; Throughout this scene we are treaten to some teriffic cross cut editing between the two armies which keep us on the edge of our seats and excited about what is to unfold. The Battle scenes that follow are truly some of the most visually fantastic and gritty battle scenes in movie history. Other Memorable scenes include the Assasination of Lincoln, The Blacks' first taste of equality in the southern land and the first war between the north and south. D.W. Griffith was a pioneer of early filmmaking and brought some of modern cinema's most vital techniques to the table with this film; Close ups, tracking shots and cross cut editing. It is now hard to imagine film today without these techniques and if it werent for Griffith it could have taken much longer before we witnessed them on screen. This film is praised by many critics but also panned by many for it's heavy use of racism, something which is hard to ignore while watching. If you can however get past this unfortunate side of the film then it really is something beautiful in it's savageness and is particularly worth a watch if your into filmmaking and the history of film. It is, however, not for the faint hearted.

BEST MOMENTS:

The War between north and south territories on the battle field, Colornel Cameron and Elsie Stoneman meeting for the first time, the two chums being reunited in the face of death, The Assasination of Abraham Lincoln, The final battle between the KKK and the blacks'.