Watch Video Discussion of Nate Parker's The Birth of a Nation Despite The Birth of a Nation's stellar reviews, its $7M opening weekend haul is lackluster, and many are saying that the Nat Turner biopic's dreary performance is related to the rape controversies that have besieged the film's director/producer/star Nate Parker and co-writer, Jean McGianni Celestin. However, given all of that, Onika McLean says go see the movie. Forget what you hear from the social detractors, The Birth of a Nation is well-crafted with so many story lines and themes that come together into an impeccable work of art. Onika says, The Birth of a Nation is #BlackManFocused and not your ordinary slave movie.