Intolerance

Year: 1916

Grade: B

Country: USA

Director: Griffith

Review

an impressive film by almost any measure, but even more impressive considering it was released in 1916. i never really made too much of birth of a nation as a racist film, but even if i did, i would have to point to this, later, griffith film as a sort of redemption. the film follows four different stories throughout time whose common theme is intolerance. griffith spells it all out quite clearly with the intertitles and it was probably a good idea considering film was in its nascent stages at the time. in a significant way this film is ahead of its time, and i would expect that the film had a weak reception from the masses at the time. and this is the major problem with the film – it’s too ahead of its time. the sets, the size of the production, the length of the picture, etc. are all bigger than anything at the time. from a historic point of view it’s impossible to deny this film, as a piece of entertainment, though, it was longish and tough to get through since i’m so accustomed to a different look and narrative feel.