Review of The Birth of a Nation (1915) by Dave A — 08 Jul 2014

It's hard to give this movie three ratings, given that the ever lasting (in)famous romanticism of the KKK leaves a lot to be desired. Granted this movie was technically groundbreaking in so many levels of film as an artistic medium, the jury is out on whether or not D.

W. Griffith was a guy in love with the idea of romanticizing the KKK and reimagining them in some kind of superheroic light. Black and white silent epic is a 3 hour two part story, focusing on a family destroyed by the Civil War.

I could say much more but I think the film should speak for itself. It's said that Griffith followed up this film with "Intolerance", which many say was his response to the attacks on "Birth of a Nation" by examining the injustices of racial prejudice.

But it seems like that attempt, if earnest, has been overshadowed by the near obvious worship put onscreen here.