The Story of The Birth of a Nation by DW Griffith - Movie Review Example

?QUESTIONS TO ANSWER FOR FILM REPORTS What is the film about and does it have a theme? If so, where do we ?rst sense that theme developing? What methods are employed to emphasize this theme? The story of The Birth of a Nation, created and directed by D. W. Griffith, revolves around two families and their experiences during the era of the Civil War. The Stonemans from the North support the Union while the Camerons from the South support the Confederacy. The film presents major issues such as slavery of African Americans, participation of men in their respective regiments, the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, and the establishment of leftist group Ku Klux Klan organized by Ben Cameron after knowing that the South has been in distress. The theme of the movie is the conflict between the two regions of the United States, the South being dominated by African-American slaves. The theme was clearly revealed, although there were already hints in the beginning that it involves war scenes, during the attack initiated by a black militia group to the houses owned by white Americans in the village, including the house of the Camerons. In emphasizing the central theme of the movie, Griffith used two separate families which supported different ideals, and the use of violence in the uprisings seen during the Civil War. 2) What were the choices made by the main characters and what were the consequences of those choices? Griffith is clear in his intentions that the choice of war was a result of aged-long slavery, and the use of violence to achieve the freedom that African-Americans longed was a way to depict superiority. Ben Cameron’s choice of engaging in a relationship with Elsie, instead of a woman from his place, and Margaret’s love for the elder Stoneman, both resulted to a romance in between the war, and eventually led to love in between revenge against the African-Americans. In the end, it was a picture of an interracial relationship and marriage, and the desolation of death in wars. Moreover, Ben’s decision to organize a left wing group, though it paved way in forwarding their angst towards the demise of many white Americans, it created much more conflict, loss of lives, damages to property, and crisis in all sectors of society. Simply told, while both families chose to participate in a battle where nobody clearly wins, war did not create positive results at all. 3) What three or four sequences are most important in the film? Why? It is of personal intention to choose these important sequences in the movie that highlight its central theme. First scene was when the two Cameron ladies, Margaret and Flora, hurriedly went back to their home after noticing that chaos is happening. Both panicked while their family thought of the basement as a safe hiding place. The ransacks heated up the civilian wars. Next, the war fought by both Stonemans and Cameron took the life the younger Stoneman while Ben’s almost ended. The next sequence, Ben Cameron was brought to the hospital to be treated. The third scene, he met Elsie Stoneman who works as a nurse, with whom Cameron spent moments of admiration looking at the lady Stoneman’s photo. The two got married, a sign that amidst the impossibility, two people from different backgrounds can be at peace. Ben’s pardon to President Lincoln not to be punished culminated when, as the fourth sequence goes, Lincoln was assassinated. 4) Did the ?lm surprise you with anything unusual in its story, style, technique, or implications? Yes, it did. In fact, the film’s story is unique from the rest of black movies that highlight the miseries of African-American slaves. The movie chose to present the other way around; the violence they asserted to the communities was highlighted that it aroused a negative impression of them. Moreover, the silent approach of Griffith in this movie introduced a new insight in understanding through visuals of the history. People may have a hard time appreciating his style, but it is a breakthrough from the usual that it made me watch it until the end. Moreover, his technique in emphasizing the character using circular angles in some scenes is also not typical of today’s film. Furthermore, it is also unusual in these times that in a serious flick, the characters actually moved and ran like cartoon characters and robotic-like mannerisms in some scenes, which actions usually seen in comedy movies. Although limited by high-end technology in editing, the message of the movie is clearly depicted. 5) Were any particular ?lm techniques used in key scenes? How did the film techniques and music enhance the setting and themes of the ?lm? Provide speci?c details and explanations. Aside from the use of silence as a technique, the film used the aid of word narrations, still scenes in some parts. The next scenes appeared to be comical through some funny antics of the main characters, and a lively classic musical scoring. For instance, in the first scenes of the movie, the Stonemans were playful upon reading the letter of the Camerons. Of course, the music also coincided with the specific scenes involved. Moreover, some shots by Griffith used black as a background, for instance, Elsie’s photo, which is effective in highlighting mystery and emphasis on the character involved. These techniques, especially the visual narrations, helped the audience understand the story, and the sequence of the movie. Admittedly, there are scenes in the movie which are hard to convey using mere actions and facial expressions. The music as well aid in the transition and the emotions that should be felt by the audience. 6) Who directed the film? Does the director have a particularly distinct style? Would you recognize his work in other ?lms? What does the director's style reveal about him? D.W. Griffith is an American director who is credited for his introduction of advanced techniques in film making during the early 1900s. Griffith’s movies were notably silent ones, as his specialty also belongs to making silent films. Popular silent films of Griffith include Intolerance and Those Awful Hats created in 1909. Some film critics branded him as racist in terms of his themes used in his movies, making his theme and style subjects in film studies. Being a man who is a living witness of the civil war, Griffith’s style centers on portraying his anti-African-American sentiments, making him often called a racist. It is not yet coherent to say that his alleged racism tendency has roots of his experiences because his personal account did not reveal any racial under leanings. However, other film historians suggest that Griffith’s mere intention is to illicit an active and strong feeling from his audiences to prove that people have actually grasp the message. In other words, Griffith is more of a persuasive director, but sometimes, his strong-willed attitude generated negative response from the audience. Read More