The birth of a nation is also the first major fiction film about turner, the leader of an infamous 1831 slave rebellion. Cowritten, coproduced and directed by nate parker in his directorial debut, the film stars parker as turner, with armie hammer, mark boone junior, colman domingo, aunjanue ellis, aja naomi king, dwight. The birth of a nation, a rousing nat turner biopic, attracted record bids from studios at the indie film festival, while netflix and amazon showed off their buying power. Nat turner was a literate slave and preacher who devised a plan to lead his people to freedom.
His film receives a rapturous reception at a major festival, a. The rebellion caused the death of approximately 60 white men, women, and children. Sundance hit the birth of a nation dramatizes the nat turner slave. In the case of the birth of a nation, which dramatizes the virginia slave. Jan 26, 2016 this is an auspicious start for nate parker, the director, producer and cowriter who stars as nat turner in the movie about the slave and preacher, who led a rebellion in southern virginia in 1831. Nate parkers film the birth of a nation is the latest retelling of turners rebellion. For his debut as a feature film writer and director, nate parker has told the story of a personal hero. Griffiths mammoth civil war film sold more tickets than any other movie, inspired a resurgence of the ku klux klan, and caused enormous.
Grand jury prize and the audience award for drama went to the powerful story built around a slave rebellion led by nat turner in 1831. Set against the antebellum south, the birth of a nation follows nat turner, a literate slave and preacher, whose financially strained owner, samuel turner, accepts an offer to use nat s preaching. As turners wife, cherry, aja naomi king does fine work, but her and nats courtship takes up a curiously large amount of time, only for her character to be summarily relegated to bedridden. The movie reportedly focuses in part on how he reconciles his faith with the violence he must do to free himself and others. Nov 07, 2019 nat turner was the leader of a violent slave rebellion in southampton county, virginia, in 1831. This is an auspicious start for nate parker, the director, producer and cowriter who stars as nat turner in the movie about the slave and preacher, who led a rebellion in southern virginia in 1831. Jan 27, 2016 the birth of a nation dominated the sundance film festival awards announced saturday night, grabbing the top two prizes. The film, which parker wrote and directed himself is set against the antebellum south, this story follows nat turner, a literate slave and preacher, whose financially strained owner, samuel. Dec 03, 2015 nat turner was a literate slave and preacher who devised a plan to lead his people to freedom. Jan 26, 2016 nat turner film the birth of a nation sold in biggest deal in sundance history take that, d. The birth of a nation debuting writerdirector nate parker stars in this searingly impressive account of the nat turner slave rebellion. Jan 26, 2016 how the slaverythemed the birth of a nation made sundance history.
Beyond the lights star nate parkers film the birth of a nation, which tells the story of nat turner, will premiere at the 2016 sundance film festival. There is a better film to be made about nat turner. The sundance film festival has always been a friendly home for any movie that takes on the demons of racial politics. Nat turner october 2, 1800 november 11, 1831 was an enslaved africanamerican preacher who led a fourday rebellion of both enslaved and free black people in southampton county, virginia, beginning august 21, 1831. Nat turner film the birth of a nation sold in biggest deal in sundance history take that, d. How the slaverythemed the birth of a nation made sundance history. Parker, 36, just added a few ambitious new skills to his resume as the star, writer and director of the birth of a nation, winner of the 2016 sundance film festivals audience and jury top prizes. But turners men and weapons werent considered to be gods terrible swift sword cutting down sinners, the way that the bayonets of union soldiers were.
The movie premiered to hosannas at the sundance film festival, in january. The newest movie following in the footsteps of machete and django unchained is birth of a nation, a loving tribute to the 1831 nat turner slave rebellion which led to the death of more than. Jan 26, 2016 recorded at the premiere of nate parkers phenomenal new film, the birth of a nation at the sundance film festival held in park city, utah on monday, january 25th, 2016. New nat turner movie wows sundance nonfiction history. Nate parkers powerful nat turner film the birth of a. Sundances 2016 competition slate includes nat turner. The birth of a nation dominated the sundance film festival awards announced saturday night, grabbing the top two prizes. The enthusiastic reception that parkers film about the slave preacher and revolutionary nat turner has received at the sundance film festival is a hopeful sign toward achievement of that goal. Biopic about nat turner is a success at sundance film festival the birth of a nation, directed, written, produced and starring nate parker, received an overwhelming response at the premiere. The birth of a nation 2016 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Kimberly winston writes the following for the religious news service feature, the faithful viewer.
Dec 03, 2015 a first look at images from nate parkers long awaited the birth of a nation have arrived. Nate parkers powerful nat turner film the birth of a nation. Jan 27, 2016 the sundance film festival has always been a friendly home for any movie that takes on the demons of racial politics. The birth of a nation isnt worth defending the new yorker.
Griffiths abjectly racist 1915 film, recounts the 1831 slave uprising of nat turner, an africanamerican preacher who convinced his fellow slaves to. Nate parkers birth of a nation how the nat turner biopic. Nat turner was the leader of a violent slave rebellion in southampton county, virginia, in 1831. In 1831, he led a violent uprising on several virginia plantations, planting the. He began writing the screenplay for a nat turner film in 2009 and had a fellowship at a lab under the sundance institute. The birth of a nation is a 2016 americancanadian period drama film based on the story of nat turner, the enslaved man who led a slave rebellion in southampton county, virginia, in 1831. New film about nat turner dominated the sundance awards youtube. Set against the antebellum south, the birth of a nation follows nat turner, a literate slave and preacher, whose financially strained owner, samuel turner, accepts an offer to use nats preaching. Why nate parker chose fox searchlight over netflix.
Nat parker wrote, directed and is staring in the pivotal role. The subject of an acclaimed new movie, the 1831 slave revolt led by turner is also the focus of two tours, one black and one white, in a region still divided over turners legacy. The birth of a nation sells big makes history the mary sue. Jan 29, 2016 few movies in the history of film festivals have created the stir that the birth of a nation did at sundance this week. Say what you will about nate parkers moving, messyashell nat turner biopic the birth of a nation its undeniably a labor of love and undeniably the sort of sundance discovery movie that.
The birth of a nation the nat turner movie black raleigh. Recorded at the premiere of nate parkers phenomenal new film, the birth of a nation at the sundance film festival held in park city, utah on monday, january 25th, 2016. In 1831, he led a violent uprising on several virginia plantations, planting the fear of god into the. Jan 27, 2016 why nate parkers nat turner movie the birth of a nation has everyone at sundance buzzing this year. Jan 29, 2016 say what you will about nate parkers moving, messyashell nat turner biopic the birth of a nation its undeniably a labor of love and undeniably the sort of sundance discovery movie that.
Why nate parkers nat turner movie the birth of a nation has everyone at sundance buzzing this year. William styron won a pulitizer prize for his book on the complex turner story, but in parkers movie, the rebel slave is almost saintlike and. Whites organized militias and called out regular troops to suppress the uprising. The movie landed the biggest acquisition deal in the history of the film festival. His telling of the early 19th century slave revolt led by nat turner had audience.
Jan 27, 2016 but turner s men and weapons werent considered to be gods terrible swift sword cutting down sinners, the way that the bayonets of union soldiers were. With nate parker, armie hammer, penelope ann miller, jackie earle haley. New nat turner movie wows sundance nonfiction history of. Parker wrote, directed and is starring in the independent film. Cowritten, coproduced and directed by nate parker in his directorial debut, the film stars parker as turner, with armie hammer, mark boone junior, colman. Sundance hit the birth of a nation dramatizes the nat turner slave rebellion. Five questions with the birth of a nation director nate. The movie landed the biggest acquisition deal in the. People made a judgment call based on something outside of religion, rather than simply accepting that both turner and howe were revealing the truth, then categorized turner as delusional and. The birth of a nation stars parker as nat turner alongside a cast that includes armie hammer, aja naomi king, jackie earle haley, penelope ann miller, and gabrielle union. Griffiths landmark film, this will be remembered for unintended reasons. The film directed and written by nate parker, who also stars in the lead role focuses on the story of turner, the virginia slave who led a.
A first look at images from nate parkers long awaited the birth of a nation have arrived. Biopic about nat turner is a success at sundance film festival. Sundances 2016 competition slate includes nat turner biopic. Nat turner, a literate slave and preacher in the antebellum south, orchestrates an uprising. Its the biopic about nat turner, the early19thcentury slave who rounded up other slaves and led a rebellion against white slave owners, killing some 60 white people in virginia in 1831. The birth of a nation, nate parkers film about the nat turner slave revolt, won both the us dramatic audience award and the grand jury prize at the 32nd sundance film festival awards.
Sundance hit the birth of a nation dramatizes the nat. Nat is allowed to run and play with the young turner heir, samuel. Sundance releases first look at nat turner biopic the. New film about nat turner dominated the sundance awards.
Nat turner movie the birth of a nation lands biggest. Sundances 2016 competition slate includes nat turner biopic, obama firstdate movie, and two films about christine chubbuck. Thats from birth of a nation directorproducerstar nate parker today onstage at the sundance film festival. Set against the antebellum south, this story follows nat turner, a literate slave preacher, whose financially strained owner, samuel turner, accepts an.