A majestic and naive epic of the Civil War and Reconstruction

Rating: Null/10 (22 April 1999)

This is a most perplexing movie to me. Though I've known about it and its importance to film history, I saw it for the first time only recently. I have to say that it is a visually beautiful and often stunning movie. I saw a tinted 16mm print, and the effect of many of the scenes is like watching daguerreotypes come to life. I just wish that the film had ended when its depiction of the Civil War did. The depiction and message behind the Reconstruction episode is abhorrent and unbelievably naive. Despite Griffth's words to the contrary, his message is absolutely clear: blacks are not worthy of freedom. It is sobering to contemplate that such a brilliant and influential a filmmaker could be so oblivious to the hateful consequences of his beliefs.