Silent Film Breakthrough

Rating: 6/10 (26 June 2003)

While I am not a huge silent film fan, I chose to watch Birth of a Nation as an assignment for a class I was taking. I was impressed with Griffith's use of colors to express the various moods of the scenes within the film. This was a technique widely used after this film was made. Seems simple by today's standards, but back then was a breakthrough to use color on film.
He also did a good job of using the action to convey a theme in the scenes. The film kept advancing through this use. I recall most vividly the turning point of the film when the Col. discovers his passion to fight for the rights of the people of the South. This carried the 2nd half of the movie. The story line in the beginning might drag, but if you can hold out till the end of the film, you will not be dissappointed. This truly was a breakthrough for its day, and Griffith should be credited with helping advance the way films are made.