Putting aside the rampant racism and historical revisionism (what a one-two punch), The Birth of a Nation is primarily concerned with the subject of war. It's not a big fan.
In its depiction of the American Civil War, the film examines the brutal reality of being on the other side of an armed conflict from former friends, seeing loved ones lose their lives in battle, and recovering in its aftermath. Despite the film's notable deficiencies in other areas, its depiction of warfare is surprisingly complex and resonant.
Questions about Warfare
- Do you agree with Griffith's statement that the film is primarily about war? Why or why not?
- In what way are civil wars depicted as being particularly difficult?
- How does the film visually depict the horror of war?
- What is the meaning of the film's closing "vision"?
Chew on This
The film depicts civil wars as being particularly difficult for its participants because they have a shared culture and value system.
The film uses long shots of dead bodies at various points in the movie to drive home the horror of war.