A Horrific and Important Piece of History

Rating: 10/10 (16 August 2019)

This film was like watching someone discover fire for the first time in history but then immediately use it to burn down a village.

So how the hell do I rate this? Do I look purely at the film's extremely impressive technical achievements and innovations? Or do I only look at the horrific racism that the film presents?

Instead I'll rate The Birth of a Nation based on its historical significance, which is undeniable. Whether it was the film's huge influence on the film industry or severe consequences for American society, it certainly made its mark on history. That it is still so controversial and argued about to this day is proof.

Remember, history is not all good. It is filled with hatred, violence, and endless wars. However, that is a large part of why it is essential to have knowledge of history: so that when new history is made, it might not be as bleak as the time period in which The Birth of a Nation was produced. For that reason, this is an important film, and one that should be seen by anyone with an interest in cinema. It, at the very least, can serve as a warning for the hatred that can be propagated when art is used maliciously or irresponsibly.