‘The Birth of a Nation’ Starring Nate Parker Debuts Intense Trailer

Already a hot contender to rack up award show nods and possible accolades, The Birth of a Nation debuted an intense and emotional trailer to get viewers prepared for an unforgettable adaptation of Nat Turner’s journey to leading a historic slave rebellion.

The visual is set to the tone of Nina Simone’s stirring melody, “Strange Fruit,” and depicts images of life for slaves in the South and how Turner spearheaded his opposition to oppressors.

During a discussion at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, the film’s director/writer Nate Parker spoke on the type of feeling he wants moviegoers to receive after watching the reel.

“I made this film for one reason, with the hope of creating change agents. That people can watch this film and be affected,” he said. “That you can watch this film and see that there were systems that were in place that were corrupt and corrupted people and the legacy of that still lives with us. I just want you, if you are affected and you are so moved, to ask yourself, ‘Are there systems in my life that need attention whether it be racial, gender?’ There are a lot of injustices.”

View the two-minute sneak peek below ahead of its October release.