Quote:
Originally Posted by Janszoon
The Birth of a Nation
For anyone who doesn't know or couldn't guess by the poster, this 1915 silent film is about the American Civil War and the founding of the Ku Klux Klan (who it depicts as heroes). To say this movie is absurdly racist and an enormous steaming pile of revisionist history bullsh it is an understatement. However, it is a landmark film in the history of cinema filled with many innovations which are now completely entrenched pieces of the language of cinema especially in terms of the camera work and the editing. It's also an interesting unintentional document of how socially acceptable extreme racism was in American culture back in those days. On the other hand, it was controversial even in it's day so that at least gives me a little hope. Worth watching if you have an interest in the history of cinema and don't mind sitting through a silent film that's over three hours long but be advised that this movie will probably piss you off. |
By far the most polarizing film ever made.
DW Griffith was the true pioneer of American filmmaking, and this film is probably his greatest technical achievement. And in all it's technical achievements it IS a brilliantly made film.
People need to understand that this was a different movie for a different time, and of course times change, today just about anyone who is not a klansmen or skinhead can agree that this is probably the most ridiculously offensive film ever made.
Well, at least until Eddie Griffin, Martin Lawrence and The Wayans Brothers starting doing movies.
I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a fascination with racist iconography though.