Movie Review: The Birth of a Nation
What We Liked
What We Didn't Like
The Birth of a Nation is so heart-wrenchingly moving. A biography of the emancipation movement that began with Nate Turner, slave and preacher, a character played brilliantly by writer/director Nate Parker. The story begins in the antebellum South in 1809. Nate as a very young man is thought to be a leader that will do great things, having some unique marks that was felt only a leader would have. Shortly into the story the despicable conditions a slave community would have to endure was deplorable. Nat’s father Isaac (Dwight Henry) set out 
one night to try and salvage some food for his family. He was caught by a group of runaway slave patrolmen without a pass. The very evil ring leader of the posse Raymond Cobb (Jackie Earle Haley) was horrifically confrontational, and the scene turned into a bloodbath, with Isaac narrowly escaping, returning to his family and quickly saying goodbye. The dreadful Raymond Cobb soon interrogated the family and the hatred began between Nate and Cobb.
Fast forward to Nate becoming a man working in the cotton fields. He was an intelligent man that could read and became a preacher. He became a leader and fell in love with a beautiful woman he was integral in saving. Nancy Turner (Aunjanue Ellis), Nate’s wife, had endured incredible abuse and the tender love that she received from her husband was something exceptionally beautiful to watch.
So as plantations and plantation owners went, this one was not the worst. Slave owner Samuel Turner (Armie Hamer) had a small degree of compassion in comparison of others. The Reverend of the white community (Mark Boone Junior) felt that the Turner plantation had a more peaceful group of slaves because of Nate Turner’s preaching. Nate soon became a commodity where the Reverend and Samuel were paid to have Nate go and preach to the slaves of neighboring plantations. The atrocities that were viewed were at times more than I could stomach. Please keep in mind that this is based on a true story and is considered a biography. I am certain that this story is not far off from how catastrophic it really was. I feel it important that it be known that, this story will stick with you. This unfortunately is part of our American history and I for one am mortified that this and worse has occurred.
Inevitably it only stands to reason that an uprising will occur and this is the account of a pivotal one. I won’t expound any more. This story should be seen and experienced. Honestly, I’m impressed with every aspect of the film, the storyline, the acting, and direction are all phenomenal. I completely experienced an entire gamut of emotions; sadness, pain, suspense, joy, shock, repulsion, but no emotion more prevalent than anger. A certain must see!
Betsy Cizek
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