- Music
- 18 Apr 16
The 1915 film Birth of a Nation perpetuated negative, unjust and incorrect stereotypes of African Americans and caused a revival and justification of intense racism and degradation of their people.
Now 101 years later, writer, director, actor and star of the 2016 Birth of a Nation Nate Parker is determined to turn the original film on its head and enlighten audiences by showing them the real history of their people.
Birth of a Nation is no glorification of violence or exploitation of history like Quentin Tarantino's slave tale of Django Unchained but falls in line with Steve McQueen's hard hitting 12 Years a Slave. This is the true story of Nat Turner, a literate slave and preacher who led the slave rebellion of 1831 in Virginia. His master Samuel Turner tries to mould and brainwash Nat into an Uncle Tom by punishing his fellow slaves. However, through witnessing and experiencing atrocities carried out upon him and his fellow workers, Nat cannot abide by this dehumanisation any more and begins to orchestrate a slave rebellion in the hope of leading his people to freedom.
Birth of a Nation was on everybody's lips following this years Sundance Festival. Winner of the Audience Award and the Grand Jury Prize, the film sold for an unprecedented figure of $17.5 million to Fox Searchlight Pictures.
Reviews project that Birth of a Nation will stir deep emotions as this troubled reality should and be an faithful telling of history like 12 Years a Slave before it.
Birth of a Nation is due for release in January 2017.