Overview
I'm working on a film writing question and need an explanation and answer to help me learn.
Watch the clip and answer the following questions. The clip runs from 36:35 ("News from the front") - 42:45 ("Letters from home revive tender reveries") in Birth of a Nation.
1. Describe the "rhythm" of the editing. Some issues you might want to consider include but are not limited to: does the time between cuts increase or decrease as the scene progresses? Does the movement of the characters within the frame change as the scene progresses? What effect do these changes have on the pace of the narrative and the tension between characters?
2. How does this scene contribute to Griffith's treatment of the themes of home and family that are so central to Brith of a Nation?