Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages

Movie spotlight

Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages

1916
Movie
197 min
English

The story of a poor young woman, separated by prejudice from her husband and baby, is interwoven with tales of intolerance from throughout history.

Insights

IMDb7.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes97%
Director: D.W. GriffithGenres: Epic, Drama, History

Plot Summary

The film interweaves four parallel stories from different historical periods, all centered around the theme of intolerance. It contrasts the downfall of Babylon due to moral decay and intolerance with the story of Christ's crucifixion, the persecution of Huguenots in 16th-century France, and a modern-day tale of injustice in early 20th-century America. These narratives are linked by the recurring figure of the "Judean", representing eternal motherhood and pity.

Critical Reception

Upon its release, 'Intolerance' was hailed as a cinematic landmark for its ambitious scope, innovative storytelling, and grand scale. While its complex narrative structure and lengthy runtime were challenging for some audiences and critics, its technical achievements and powerful thematic exploration of love and intolerance were widely recognized, establishing it as a monumental work in silent film history.

What Reviewers Say

  • A groundbreaking epic that pushed the boundaries of cinematic storytelling.

  • Praised for its immense scale, technical mastery, and universal themes.

  • Considered a monumental achievement in silent cinema, despite its challenging structure.

Google audience: N/A

Awards & Accolades

Considered one of the greatest films ever made; a major influence on filmmaking techniques and epic cinema.

Fun Fact

The film's colossal sets, particularly the reproduction of the Walls of Babylon, were so massive that they had to be dismantled before the film's initial release due to financial and logistical pressures.

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