I have the DVD. This movie has the distinction of being the first full-length, multi reel movie. I love old movies, especially ‘firsts’. First color movie, first talkie, etc., Before this DW Griffith film, everything made was a one reel short. Yes, it is the story of the KKK, but I don’t want to live in a world where we have to throw out every statue, every stained glass window, every painting, because it depicts something someone finds offensive.
Stained glass windows - a perfect comparison! I so fear that we’ll see a banning of this film and GWTW and other movies that chronicle the old south.
Birth of a Nation is considered a pioneering classic by all film scholars. Griffith either created or pioneered long shots, iris shots, night photography, color photography as well as creating a touching drama of a family torn apart by the Civil War. It’s influenced all war movies that were to come.
The movie is only about the KKK in the final hour - the first two are concerned with the antebellum south and the war.
DW Griffith and Wilson were southerners of their time. Wilson was even babysat by none other than Robert E. Lee as a child. So it’s not surprising they would be racist by modern terms.
I haven’t seen D’Souza’s movie so I’ll wait to see what he has to say about this movie in total. It is a great movie - like seeing Brady photos come to life.