paradox when an intellectual idiot is a cinematic genius

Rating: 1/10 (12 February 2000)

(This may have some spoiler stuff in it, but I'd be surprised if anyone saw this film without knowing all about it already.)
We can thank D.W. Griffith for creating film as an art form, for maturing the medium. However, Birth of a Nation did far more damage than good as a film. Although it is the first true American feature film, feature films were inevitable anyway. All of the innovations used in the film had already been used in Griffith's previous films and would continue to be used. It cannot be said that Birth of a Nation was socially acceptable in 1915. It drew immediate demonstrations against its racism, condemnation by the American president and Congress, and was banned in 8 states. It is directly responsible for the rise of the KKK in many parts of the South, and was used as a recruitment film for the KKK until the 1960s. It is sad that such an unfortunate story (how the KKK saved white women from rape, forced marriage and other atrocities perpetrated by black "monkeymen" after the end of the Civil War) accompanied this feature film. However, you cannot separate the story from this film. To do so would be to ignore the damage this film has caused in U.S. society - damage that is still felt today. That would be irresponsible.