Epic movie with glaring flaws.

Rating: 8/10 (2 March 2012)

This movie is actually two separate movies under one title, the first dealing with the Civil War itself and the second with Reconstruction. Also, the movie's title is misleading. The title should have been A Nation Reborn or A Nation Torn Asunder. Part 1 is vastly superior to part 2. Unlike part 2, part 1 of Birth of a Nation is powerful and compelling work of cinema. This movie lays out a coherent and plausible story involving two families who serve as metaphors for the North and South. Moreover,this movie effectively portrays the the carnage and chaos of war (e.g.,the sacking of Piedmont and the Cameron home; the intense battle scenes; the burning of Atlanta) and the loss suffered by the families in what is a senseless struggle (e.g., Mrs. Cameron losing two sons) as well as the graphic and historically accurate depiction of the assassination of Presdient Lincoln and the subsequent political consequences in terms of North-South relations. Also impressive was the acting of Lillian Gish, who plays Elsie Stoneman, and Josephine Crowell, who play Mrs. Cameron. Both give performances that epitomize what women were going through on the home fronts. There is nothing in this part of the movie that is corny or contrived. However, the movie goes off on a tangent in Part 2. The plot becomes contrived, highly melodramatic, and overtly racist, relying heavily on caricature to portray certain characters in a negative way. Blacks are portrayed in an openly offensive manner and the plot becomes muddled as the movie attempts to rewrite history. Nevertheless it still contains impressive elements: 1. Two outstanding actresses in principal roles: Lillian Gish and Mae Marsh. 2.Several spectacular exterior chase scenes. 3. Elaborate sets. 4. The story proceeds at a brisk pace, i.e., it's not boring. 5. There is an intermixing of close-up shots, wide-angle shots, and iris shots which depict the story from different perspectives. 6. The music is emotionally evocative (although at times unduly repetitive). 7. Extensive use of extras, especially in complex exterior shots. 8. Generally excellent acting (although at times stagy). 9. The cast includes African-Americans as extras (in a time when Jim Crowism was legal). It should also be noted that this movie was highly profitable, meaning that it is a product that resonated with the public and that was ranked number 44 on the AFI's list of the 100 best American movies (although it was subsequently removed from the list), meaning that the film industry itself had judged this movie to be worthy of positive recognition. However, primarily because of part 2, the movie in total ultimately fails as a work a drama. The slanted and myopic treatment of the causes of the Civil War shown in part 1and coupled with the hysterical portrayal of Reconstruction in part 2, makes the movie's story untenable and thereby undermines its strength as a drama. At best, this movie is an impressive antique of early movie making; at worst, a shameless attempt at historical revision and an appeal to racism.
One other point. The Birth of a Nation is an epic. If one buys into the movie's fundamental premise, that the Civil War was an unnecessary sectional conflict instigated by abolitionists and Northern politicians whose actions lacked political legitimacy and were therefore illegal, then the plot, including the depiction of the Ku Klux Klan and the overtly racist scenes, makes sense. Some aspects of the movie are excellent, e.g, Lillian Gish and Josephine Crowell's strong, commanding performances; the depictions of the battle scenes and the burning of Atlanta; Mrs. Cameron pleading for her son's life; Colonel Cameron's return home, and President Lincoln's assassination are especially compelling. One may disagree with the movie's political premise but it would be a difficult to summarily dismiss this movie as unworthy of serious consideration as a work of cinema.