The Birth of a Nation is a difficult film to assess. The temptation is to concentrate on the poisonous nature of much of its content to the exclusion of D.W. Griffith’s craftsmanship. The film’s politics remain despicable – as they were in 1915 – especially the second half’s unabashedly racist portrayal of reconstruction.
Griffith’s epic of how the American Civil War and aftermath impacted on two families, whom remain friendly despite being on opposite sides of the conflict, has a surprising modernity. The pioneering filmmaker was either inventing or implementing many of the techniques that would continue to define narrative cinema.
The Birth of a Nation’s dynamism comes through in striking action scenes staged on a truly grand scale. Griffith takes contrasting viewpoints during the battle sequences: panoramic and close-up. Each position throws up striking imagery, never more so than the shot of a Southerner ramming a Confederate flag down the barrel of a Yankee cannon.
Equally dynamic – and troubling for it – is the climactic ride of the Ku Klux Klan. Griffith used a moving camera to suggest the speed of the chase and parallel action to show its urgency. The film, too, is anchored by some fine performances. Lillian Gish and Miriam Cooper contribute the most subdued and modern work. Mae Marsh and the blackface stereotypes represent the more dated acting style.
Extras
The Birth of a Nation gets deluxe Blu-ray treatment. The picture is fantastic, revealing incredible detail in close-ups and getting amazing depth from the battle shots. It really showcases just how beautifully cinematographer Billy Bitzer photographed the movie.
A solid package of extras includes an informative but very dry ‘Making-of’, an odd prologue attached to the 1930 release of the film and almost 2 hours-worth of American Civil War-set shorts by Griffith. The best extra, however, is the booklet, which collects several contemporary articles about the film, its reception and delves into the controversy its racism caused even in 1915.
This is an outstanding disc for a hugely important film. It’s not an easy watch, but is a masterful work of early cinema and an essential part of anybody’s collection.
Sam has awarded The Birth of a Nation five Torches of Truth
