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The Birth of a Nation | Year: 1915 Classification: Classics (Silents/Avant Garde) Directed: - D.W. Griffith Actors/Actresses: - Lillian Gish - Mae Marsh - Henry B. Walthall An outdated film - that¿s why it's good This movie is good for two reasons: 1) it provides a history lesson on the civil war and the reconstruction period from a point of view that probably is not shown in any other film, and 2) it shows that Hollywood directors used to make films from the heart instead of worrying about "political correctness". I personally found this movie more enjoyable and more informative than any of the films I was shown in high school history classes. It portrays the confederates as American heroes, rather than traitors. And more notably, it shows the Ku Klux Klan to be a group of noble American patriots fighting against the tyranny of the carpetbaggers, instead of being a bunch of ignorant, reprehensible criminals. Unfortunately, because of the people who run Hollywood nowadays, no one is allowed to make a movie like this anymore. True, many people would see this film as racist propaganda. But I think this is an important piece of history, especially in today's politically correct society in which people speak of banning the confederate flag. The soundtrack is beautiful as well. I think the only reasons I give the film four stars instead of five is because I don't like the character of Silas Lynch (he looks too much like a white man; it's confusing) and the "pet sister" Flora Cameron seems to fit the modern stereotype of a ditzy blonde. :) Brilliant and infuriating I show this movie, or at least the last 40 minutes of it, to students in my classes as part of our debate on artistic freedom and censorship -- because I know I can count on it to offend them. In fact, the reason I have bought a copy of the DVD is that the department's old video copy is worn out by now from the number of times it's been used in class. By every possible moral measure, this movie is incredibly offensive, with its crude racial stereotypes, its rewriting of American history to portray white Southerners as the "victims" of Blacks who claimed their political rights as voting citizens after the Civil War, and its glorification of the Ku Klux Klan. And it can't be dismissed as "just a movie," because its release had real consequences, leading to race riots, lynchings, and worst of all, the re-formation of the Klan, which had almost entirely died out before the movie was released. And yet, as any historian of cinema can tell you, it was technically and artistically a landmark, the first movie epic, the first really ambitious effort at complex story-telling and spectacle in the new medium. Every movie epic that has been made since then owes something to this film. All of this makes for some very lively classroom discussions: should this movie still be shown to public audiences? If someone wanted to show it on this campus as part of a program on the history of cinema, would you support their right to show it, or would you protest the use of your tuition and fees for a purpose like that? Do we want to be accused of "political correctness?" Do we want to be accused of inciting to riot? So, do I admire this movie or hate it? Well, both. That's why I split the difference between 5 stars for artistic merit and 0 stars for political irresponsibility, and averaged them out at three. Just About Brilliant Using the KKK as heroes is in astonishingly poor taste. Even then, in much lass enlightened times, Griffin was taken to the woodshed and taken to task. Griffin responded by partially redeeming himself with the overly ambitious Intolerance. That said, the movie itself is brilliantly made. The acting, cinematography, direction and story are perfect. Definately a must watch for anyone interested in film as art or craft. Buy The Birth Of A Nation at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on The Birth Of A Nation Search with the Priority Search Engine on The Birth Of A Nation This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
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