D.W. Griffith, 1915. Griffith’s imagining of an interracial Congress is outrageous. So is his valiant portrayal of the KKK as a force of restorative order. But there was a time when Griffith’s ideas resonated, and some would argue they still do. This unabashed look at our history proves looking in the mirror is not always easy.
Tag: film
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A Trip to the Moon
George Méliès, 1902. There is something immensely satisfying that the film we consistently award as the “first” in the list of greats is one that takes us into the great beyond. Watching the conception of an entirely new medium with the full knowledge of how that medium will evolve is nothing short of exhilarating.
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Foolish Wives
Erich Von Stroheim, 1922. Under the tight direction of von Stroheim, the acting is subtle, specific, and thus very funny. The Austrian-born director brings a decidedly European feel to American film, and it’s a big leap from Griffith’s world. Satirical excellence in a vivid Monte Carlo.
