Why is "Birth of a Nation" considered to be such a great movie?

Answer 1

'Birth of A Nation' by David Wark Griffith is the first full length feature film of the history of world cinema. It is considered as the trend-setter of modern day Hollywood films.

The director, Griffith, who is known as the Father of Modern Cinema or Shakespeare of Screen did a handful of revolutionary things in this film. Such as -

TECHNICALLY
1. Use of Parallel Cutting
2. Use of lighting as a tool of expressing emotions
3. Use of different shot sizes (Such as close up, long shot, mid shot etc)
4. Use of symbolism
5. Use of flashback and flash forward

SOCIALLY
1. This film empowered the racist group KY-Klux-Clan and theie membership increased.
2. Cinema earned a lot of respectability and became a topic of discussion in all Spears of society.
3. Cinema emerged as a lucrative form of business.
4. It also emerged a form of expressing your thoughts (related to the concept of free speech) thus became a highly powerful medium.
5. It brought about the formula of Emotional-Sentimental-Melodramatic films and set the tone for Hollywood.

This is why this film is regarded as a watershed in the history of world cinema.

Answer 2

It's NOT the content, it is the technique. The fact that Griffith coulds make such a big movie way back in 1914.

Answer 3

i have yet to figure that out myself - its more of a national disgrace!