The importance of a film, be it critical or commercial, can often be a slow burn. A strong debut can spark the fire, which is buffeted by waves of word of mouth to catch fire on general release.

Others explode. As is the case of Nate Parker’s The Birth of a Nation which ruled over Sundance, attaching Oscar buzz like wasps around summer honey.

The film is set to be released on the 7th of October in the States and the 20th of January in the UK, though a slot at the LFF is a certainty.

Two poster were released today, (one living, one dead?) and we’re going to take a look.

Synopsis ho!

Set against the antebellum South, THE BIRTH OF A NATION follows Nat Turner (Nate Parker), a literate slave and preacher, whose financially strained owner, Samuel Turner (Armie Hammer), accepts an offer to use Nat’s preaching to subdue unruly slaves.

As he witnesses countless atrocities – against himself and his fellow slaves – Nat orchestrates an uprising in the hopes of leading his people to freedom.

The full poster is below, and then we have what’s been called a living poster which is pretty great. Check them out.

The Birth of a Nation Poster