Review of The Birth of a Nation (1915) by Katie H — 13 May 2010

I give this rating with reservations. It is indeed a tremendous motion picture. D.W. Griffith used many MANY groundbreaking film techniques that are standard in the business now. Excellent performances throughout, and the Civil War battle scenes seem as real as anything done today. Griffith deserves every accolade he received for this film. A landmark film.

That's the good news. Now for the bad. Be prepared to be shaken to the core by the way the Ku Klux Klan are portrayed...not as the disgusting hatemongers they were (and are), but rather as heroes who rescue and protect the country from the evil influences and corruptions of the black race (the film's perspective, not mine). One can argue that Griffith, being a Southerner, was a product of his raising and the times, but it's still VERY difficult to watch how the KKK are showered with glory in a parade thrown for them. This film caused riots at the time it was released, and even though it is an important picture and should be seen, would likely cause a similar reaction if released today. Still a must-see from a technical standpoint, but a real kick in the chest from a philosophical standpoint.