The Most American of Films

The Times is trying to gin up interest in the nation’s 250th anniversary, largely unsuccessfully because basically no one cares, regardless of political position. No one really finds much to celebrate about the United States, very much including myself. We can talk about that and maybe we should do that. But one thing the Times has done is have its critics name what is for them the “most definitive movie about America.” For the most part, it’s really liberal wishcasting about what people want America to be rather than what it is. There Will Be Blood is the only really good choice here, but an even better choice–and the one that is most obvious to me–is The Birth of a Nation. Not only is white supremacy a foundational myth in American life and not only did this film inspire the second iteration of the Ku Klux Klan, but it remains tremendously powerful in message today, even if no one really watches it. After all, it represents the governing philosophy and vision of history of the entire Republican Party, embodied in Donald Trump and Stephen Miller. It starts with a quote from the man who was at that time the president of the United States (even if Wilson probably never said it was history was written by lightning, it’s close enough to be believable). White supremacy is America and America is white supremacy. It doesn’t have to be. But what characteristic is more American than violent white supremacy?

If I was to name a second film it would be The Searchers.