Review of The Birth of a Nation (1915) by Kevin W — 14 Feb 2010

Is it possible to reconcile art that is technically so far ahead of its time but whose content is so thoroughly objectionable? The Birth of a Nation was a landmark in American cinema, the first "epic" American film that introduced numerous technical innovations that are used in films today.

Three hours long, incredibly ambitious, but at the same time a nasty piece of propaganda, rewriting American history in the era of the American civil war and its aftermath. Those with impeccable liberal sensibilities will be rightly offended, but the sheer scope and magnitude of The Birth of a Nation has ensured its place in film history.