THE BIRTH OF A NATION

US, 2016, 120 minutes, Colour.
Nate Parker, Armie Hammer, Penelope Ann Miller, Jackie Earle Haley, Mark Boone Jr, Anjanue Ellis, Dwight Henry, Roger Guenver Smith, Gabrielle Union.
Directed by Nate Parker.

It was in 1916 that pioneer film director, D. W. Griffith released his quite epic treatment of the American Civil War, The Birth of a Nation. Almost immediately, commentators raised difficulties because of the perceived stances of the and the director, some racist attitudes towards the African- Americans and a seeming glorifying of the Ku Klux Klan.

100 years later, African- American writer-director, Nate Parker, has made a film of the same name but taken very different stances.

The film is actually set in the pre-Civil War period, from 1809 into the 1820s and 30s. The settings are the usual plantation, the white family in the homestead, the black community living a rather impoverished existence, slaves, working in the cotton fields. This is well conveyed in the use of the locations.

The film also focuses on a young boy, seen as somewhat prophetic and special, celebrated in rituals – but, his father and other elders being persecuted pursued by slaves-dealers. As he grows up, he has a talent for reading, is a friend of the son of the plantation owner, the same age, invited into the household, nicely dressed, and taught to read by the plantation owner’s wife (Penelope Ann Miller). However, he is not invited to meals in the house and has to return home. When the owner dies, he is forced back to work in the fields.

Writer-director Nate Parker portrays Nat Turner as he grows up, talented in reading and leading the slaves, knowledgeable of the Bible, able to conduct religious services, yet still working in the fields. The new plantation owner is his boyhood friend, Sam, played by Armie Hammer. There is still the difference between black and white although Sam seems to be much more open than others.

At one stage, Nat accompanies Sam to the town and views the slave market, a young woman being savagely oppressed, Sam buying the slave, taking her home, her turning on Nate but then finding him sympathetic – and, ultimately, they marry.

In difficult financial times, some religious leaders have the idea that Nate should go round the black communities and preach, but highlight the emphasis on obeying masters as a key Biblical concept. He does, but finds it oppressive even as he carries out the orders. When his wife is molested by a white dinner guest, it is the last straw.

The latter part of the film is about the black uprising, Nate able to gather so many of the slaves around him, the attack on the white settlement, the intervention of the military – leading to a hanging.

Mark Boone Jr is the religious minister who encourages Nat’s preaching. Jackie Earle Haley is the embodiment of all that is evil, oppressive, molesting, about white slavers.

This sympathetic emphasis on the black uprising as one of the prologues to the Civil War is distinctive for 2016 but is stances and attitudes are the opposite of the classic pioneering film of 1916.

1. The title? Using D. W. Griffith’s title of 1916? But the opposite perspective? The portrait of the black uprising? Before the Civil War?

2. Re-creation of the period, 1809 to 1830s? The plantation, the mansion, the interiors, the cotton fields, the accommodation for the Blacks? The gatherings and preaching? The uprising? Costumes, decor? The musical score?

3. The prologue: Nat Turner as a little boy, going to the ceremony, the rituals, his being special, his being designated as a prophet? The recurring of these images throughout the film?

4. Nat as a boy, his bond with his mother? Going into the forest, his father looking for him, the slaves in their search? The attack, shots, death? His fleeing? The boy at home, his mother, grandmother? The chief slave and oppression and threats? His friendship with Sam, but their going to different meals? Taking the book, reading, Sam’s wife and her admiration, deciding to teach Nat to read, dressing in good clothes, taking him into the house? The possibilities for him?

5. Matt having to go back into the cotton fields? Growing up? Sam, the owner of the plantation? His friendship with Nat and yet…? The poverty of the black community, Nat becoming a pastor, reading the Scriptures, preaching, the ideas, reciting grace at meals? Sam, the financial desperation, the invitation to Nat to preach on various plantations? Sam accompanying him? The dinner, the hopes for prosperity? The guest and the touching of the women? Sam angry? Nat and the whipping, the savagery of the lash? Nat standing up, Sam letting him go, his collapse?

6. Nat and his personality, age and experience, work in the fields, his preaching, his knowledge of Scripture? His being used – urging slaves to obey their masters, even when they were unjust? Preaching obedience? His grace, quoting the Psalms – but the beginnings of rebellion and enthusing the oppressed Blacks?

7. Sam and Nat, going to the slave market, the humiliations of the slaves, purchasing Cherry, her ferocity and turning on Nat? Nat’s mother and helping her to calm Cherry? Cherry working in the household? Nat courting her, the wedding, the grandmother presiding? Her pregnancy, giving birth?

8. The possibilities for the Blacks, the slaves and the insistence on permits, confronting Cherry, the rape? Nat writing to her? The behaviour at the dinner, touching and sexual possession?

9. Nat, rebellion, the effect of the whipping, the slaves observing? The consequences of the whipping, the Scriptures, staring at the people, Nat asking for volunteers, the joining? The caution of Sam’s majordomo and the fear that all would be killed?

10. The savagery of the uprising, 48 hours, killing Sam, his struggle for life, death? The grief of his mother? The rampage, the violence and revenge, the bloodlust?

11. Encountering the slaves, the gathering the whites together, the attack, the pitched battle and brawl? The confrontation by the soldiers? Nat and his visit to Cherry, trying to reassure he? yet the number of hanged men and women, the trees, the camera moving through like a gallery?

12. Nat, his arrest, the trial, his looking to heaven, the savagery of the whites, their calling for Nat’s death? His look to heaven, the Angel, the hood on his head, lifted high, his death?

13. The significance of the historical note at the end, the uprising and its being put down?