Birth of a Nation (2016) Review- By Michael J. Carlisle

Title: Birth of a Nation
Year: 2016
Director: Nate Parker
Country: US
Language: English

Before watching Birth of a Nation I read a few reviews to get a sense of what the film would be like. Some critics said that Director/Actor/Writer Nate Parker was essentially a black Mel Gibson, a man who makes ultra-violent Christian movies and has a checkered personal life. Indeed Birth of a Nation's success has been tainted by Parker's 1999 rape allegations, though for the purpose of this review I'm going to separate art from the artist because this is a damn fine film. 

Nat Turner (Nate Parker) is a literate slave and preacher, whose financially strained owner, Samuel Turner (Armie Hammer), accepts an offer to use Nat's preaching to subdue unruly slaves. As he witnesses countless atrocities - against himself and his fellow slaves - Nat orchestrates an uprising in the hopes of leading his people to freedom.

If you think you've heard this title before then you are correct. Nate Parker purposefully used the title of D.W Griffith's 1915 KKK epic to make a point. Parker told Filmmaker magazine at his film’s Sundance debut, "I've reclaimed this title and re-purposed it as a tool to challenge racism and white supremacy in America, to inspire a riotous disposition toward any and all injustice in this country." Birth of a Nation came out at a relevant time in the United States due to protests fed by outrage against questionable police shootings, the existence and apparent necessity for Black Lives Matter and the frightening possibility of a long term alt-right presidency. 

It will come to no shock when I tell you that Parker consulted Mel Gibson prior to shooting The Birth of a Nation. What becomes evident is how Parker’s script bears similarities to Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ (2004) and ends in a way familiar to Braveheart (1995), complete with a tortured hero and an not-so-subtle use of religious iconography. Parker's script is brilliant; providing a slow build to the uprising and showing the rising tension of religious ideology.

Considering this was made in a month on a shoestring budget it's amazing how well made the film is. Elliot Davis’ gorgeous cinematography captures some beautiful and horrific scenes from the Savannah-based production. The score isn't the most original, but does add to the emotionally powerful moments. Though I'm not religious myself, I must admit that I loved this crisis of faith picture.