The Artist in American History
003 - Film Festival: Scenes From The Birth of a Nation + Audio Commentary
In the third part of 'The Artist in American History' film festival we examine the finale of 'The Birth of a Nation' (1915), one of the most important films in the history of cinema. Â From the imagination of director D.W. Griffith, this deeply racist film was a part of the 'lost cause' myth which recast the former Confederate states as a land lost to the tyranny of the Union. Â In this scene (complete with a new director's-style commentary) we examine the disturbing racial subtext of this film as well as the white supremacist message at its heart.