Review of The Birth of a Nation (1915) by David E — 14 Aug 2008

Looking past the enshrinement of the Klan, caricatures of black people and the overt racist view throughout the second half, I enjoyed this movie. The camera shots, battles and other aesthetic techniques were well done. To see a silent film and watch the actors communicate so well with sometimes a subtle expression was what I felt a wonderful experience, a window into the acting of the late 19th-early 20th century. It's a shame of the racists views prevelent throughout the film, particularly the quotes of Woodrow Wilson. It makes me so disappointed and upset; 'Birth's' release helped if not totally revived the KKK, which Ulysses S. Grant had successfully subdued during his presidency.

This is an important film, however, one that is a good topic of discussion for us Americans to confront our still cracked race relations.