The Birth of a Nation Movie Review

The Birth of a Nation (1915)

Watch the trailer
Written by: Thomas Dixon Jr. (adapted from his novel, play, novel), D.W. Griffith, Frank E. Woods
Directed by: D.W. Griffith
Starring: Lillian Gish, Mae Marsh, Henry B. Walthall
Rated: --

Plot
Against the backdrop of the civil war, the KKK emerge as heroes.

Verdict
It's racist propaganda. It doesn't matter how people felt in 1915 or 1861. I can't believe this movie was made. Whatever the alleged technical achievement, it's overshadowed by outright bigotry. Not a single African American is portrayed in a positive light. How this film can be lauded is a mystery to me.
Skip it.

Review
Disclaimers at the front posit this as anti-war, stating it's intent is not to offend but to show the dark side of wrong and the bright of virtue. Just because you claim something, doesn't make it true.

It's a silent film with a lot of reading. Maybe it's a landmark film in technical achievement, but just take my word for it. Even a dedicated film enthusiast is going to have a difficult time with this one, and that's not even accounting for the abhorrent racism. If you were to watch this, and I recommend strongly against it, find it on Youtube and watch it at double speed.

The Birth of a Nation - Racist propaganda!

The Stoneman brothers from the North visit their friends the Camerons in the South. When Lincoln drafts a Northern army, the South does the same. The Stoneman and Camerons join their respective sides, the war having divided friends. They even meet on the battlefield, and later lead armies.

The movie takes every available opportunity to depict African Americans as villains. It's overt and off putting. I imagine this movie was written by the South as if they had won the war and kept the wretched institution of slavery. The movie doesn't like people from the North either. How did this film get made? Did no one complain enough to stop this film? Of all the things to watch in the world, I don't now why someone would pick this.

There is some history depicted in this movie, Lincoln's assassination and Lee surrendering to Grant.
The main history this movie relates is the abhorrent racism of the time, a time that let such a thing be made. This movie celebrates the KKK, urging the North and South to defend their Aryan birthright. Any movie that states this really can't use the disclaimer 'not intended to be racist. The first half of this movie is an attempt at history and to show how the war split families and friends. The second half dispenses with history and doubles down on the racist propaganda. The KKK are depicted as heroes.
If you still aren't ready to boycott this movie, understand that this movie is responsible for reviving the, at the time defunct KKK. I'm ashamed to admit I watched this. I watched it because it's ranked on the top lists from Martin Scorcese, Harvard, The Guardian, Roger Ebert, the National Film Registry, Sight and Sound, and many more. In conclusion they are all wrong.