Review of The Birth of a Nation (1915) by Joshua G — 30 Nov 2012

While controversial due to it's content, which demonizes blacks following the Civil War, and showcases the South and the beginning of the Ku Klux Klan...the film is still a masterpiece of Cinema. It's content may be controversial, historically inaccurate (Lincoln was far from considered a buddy to the South.

..hence his DEATH), and somewhat offensive (the poor Southern White folks surely were just at the mercy of blacks, huh?)...but the techniques innovated in editing and production, along with the incredible production value and expansive sequences with large groups of extras and special effects.

..make this one film that on a technical standpoint is still quite impressive, even if it's story is completely dated. Even though I think the story is mostly bunk, I do think it was well told...and paced surprisingly well for a 3 hour silent film.

I think D.W. Griffith is one of the masters of filmmaking, he definitely left a profound mark on the art and industry of cinema, and "The Birth of a Nation" deserves to be seen, because you should always see the other point of view (even if it is entirely inaccurate in how things went down) and because technically speaking, films of this era in cinema history are rarely this masterfully executed.