Freedom begins with an act of defiance!
On the run and hiding in the deep forests of the then German occupied Poland and Belorussia (World War II), the three Bielski brothers find the impossible task of foraging for food and weapons for their survival. They live, not only with the fear of discovery, contending with neighboring Soviet partisans and knowing whom to trust but also take the responsibility of looking after a large mass of fleeing Polish Jews from the German war machine. Women, men, children, the elderly and the young alike are all hiding in makeshift homes in the dark, cold and unforgiving forests in the darkest times of German occupied Eastern Europe.
Genre(s): Action, Drama, Thriller, War
Runtime: 137 minutes
Rating: 7.3/10 (23,368 votes)
Release Date: 31 December 2008
Country: USA
Languages: English, German, Russian
Company: Paramount Vantage
Sound: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS
MPAA: Rated R for violence and language.
Director(s): Edward Zwick
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Producer(s):
Pieter Jan Brugge - producer
Clayton Frohman - co-producer
Marshall Herskovitz - executive producer
Alisa Katz - associate producer (as Alisa S. Katz)
Troy Putney - associate producer
Roland Tec - co-producer
Gary Tuck - line producer: Lithuania
Edward Zwick - producer
Alex Boden - producer: pick-ups (uncredited)
Andrew Litvin - line producer: pick-ups (uncredited)
Writer(s):
Clayton Frohman - (screenplay) and
Edward Zwick - (screenplay)
Nechama Tec - (book "Defiance: the Bielski Partisans")
Cast:
Daniel Craig - Tuvia Bielski
Liev Schreiber - Zus Bielski
Jamie Bell - Asael Bielski
Alexa Davalos - Lilka Ticktin
Allan Corduner - Shamon Haretz
Mark Feuerstein - Isaac Malbin
Tomas Arana - Ben Zion Gulkowitz
Jodhi May - Tamara Skidelsky
Kate Fahy - Riva Reich
Iddo Goldberg - Yitzchak Shulman
Music: James Newton Howard
Pieter Jan Brugge - producer
Clayton Frohman - co-producer
Marshall Herskovitz - executive producer
Alisa Katz - associate producer (as Alisa S. Katz)
Troy Putney - associate producer
Roland Tec - co-producer
Gary Tuck - line producer: Lithuania
Edward Zwick - producer
Alex Boden - producer: pick-ups (uncredited)
Andrew Litvin - line producer: pick-ups (uncredited)
Writer(s):
Clayton Frohman - (screenplay) and
Edward Zwick - (screenplay)
Nechama Tec - (book "Defiance: the Bielski Partisans")
Cast:
Daniel Craig - Tuvia Bielski
Liev Schreiber - Zus Bielski
Jamie Bell - Asael Bielski
Alexa Davalos - Lilka Ticktin
Allan Corduner - Shamon Haretz
Mark Feuerstein - Isaac Malbin
Tomas Arana - Ben Zion Gulkowitz
Jodhi May - Tamara Skidelsky
Kate Fahy - Riva Reich
Iddo Goldberg - Yitzchak Shulman
Music: James Newton Howard
Posted on: January 14, 2009
August 1st, 2009
I first heard about this movie earlier this year, while it was playingit theatres. I knew it was about the Holocaust, and that it starredDaniel Craig. Unlike many people, I like Craig's portrayal of JamesBond, which was what introduced me to the actor. (I had previously seenhim in the cheesy "A Kid in King Arthur's Court", but didn't know whohe was.) I didn't see "Defiance" on the big screen, but it is now outin the DVD format. A copy of it caught my eye at the video store justyesterday, so I decided to rent it. Before I watched it, I knew itwasn't the most highly regarded film set during the Holocaust, and wascriticized by some for historical inaccuracy (obviously), but afterseeing it myself, I have to say I'm impressed.
In World War II, as Jewish people in Eastern Europe are hunted down bythe Nazis, the Bielski brothers manage to escape from a massacre. Afterthey discover family members of theirs have been killed on their farm,they take refuge in the forest nearby. They meet other Jewish refugeesthere, who soon unite with them for protection. As time goes by, thenumber of refugees in the group increases, with people of all differentages, forming an entire community. They are lead by the two elderbrothers, Tuvia and Zus Bielski, who disagree on what to do with them,leading to sibling rivalry. As Tuvia tries to help the people in thecamp and make sure they follow his rules, they face struggle forsurvival as they face conflict amongst themselves, starvation, Nazis tofight off (especially when any of them find out where the refugeesare), and harsh weather conditions when winter comes!
Around the beginning, I was already intrigued, seeing some grippingscenes, such as the brothers finding family members slain on the farm.I wasn't that consistently intrigued by the entire film, it's notperfect, but I was by a lot of it. There was enough to leave meimpressed. One thing I can praise this film for is its mostly strongscript. There are some weak spots (including some of the romanticscenes), but most of the script is strong, with steady dialogue. Beinga film about the Holocaust, you would obviously expect it to be darkand moving, which it often is. With the struggle and tragedies thepeople in the camp face, plus the bravery and determination, much ofthe film is touching, especially later on. There's also some nicecinematography here, with beautiful scenery, and I can't complain muchabout the acting. Most of the cast put on steady performances,including Daniel Craig, which I was expecting, knowing he was a goodactor after seeing him play James Bond.
As I said, this film has faced criticism for historical inaccuracy, butbefore I read any of this criticism, I knew from experience that itobviously existed. I think I've yet to see a film based on a true storythat has never been criticized for inaccuracy. For that reason,although I'm no history buff, I don't expect movies like this to showall truth and no fiction. However, that doesn't mean I'm going todismiss them all just because of that. Even if "Defiance" isn't thatgood for a history lesson, it's still a well made film. At thebeginning, it does say, "A true story" in the text on the screen, andit would have been better if it said, "BASED ON a true story," instead.Still, while some people will complain about inaccuracy, and I have noproblem with that, I have to praise this recent blockbuster for otheraspects. Judging it merely as a film and not a biography, it's a goodwar drama. Not a perfect one, but a good one.
August 2nd, 2009
The Germans or should I say Nazis of WWII were correctly shown in"Defiance" and portrayed as a heartless, ruthless war machine, as inmany of it's black and white predecessors, because that's what theywere. You can't sugarcoat cowards horrors. Movies can hardly touch orgrasp their actual or complete horrible scope.
Movies such as this open a viewers eyes to a time when humans turnedthe world into a graveyard. Even the most profound of these movies,won't dare or come close to opening the door to what "actually"occurred. Before you make a comment such as you did, take some time toactually think about what you are saying!
August 4th, 2009
In fact, this may be the most impressive work from director EdwardZwick. The usual Zwick movies tend to play the big scale and goover-dramatic here and there. Movies like The Last Samuri, BloodDiamond and Legends of the Fall all suffer because they are sometimes abit overdone and sounded phony. Don't get me wrong; he is really a gooddirector in his favorite genre–warfare. Glory is still the best UScivil war movie to date with glorious performances. In my opinion,Defiance comes very close in terms of performances. However, what madeit stood out is its honesty.
Honestly, this movie doesn't portray big-time heroes like Tom Cruise'sNathan Algren or dramatic moments that wrench your guts like in Legendsof the Fall. There's no Brad Pitt goes Rambo or Diccaprio goesCommandos. Neither are there lifting long shots with main characterscrying on their killed loved ones. Everything was shot in a moretranquilized, restrained style, although not rendering the whole moviein ultra-realism, still delivered a totally different WW2 movie that'sworth a nod. There are virtually no very obvious dramatic turns in thischaracter/plot-driven storyline. All characters have their ego orresponsibilities and these things don't change as cheap miracles likeother movies. Most impressive achievement is that the director managedto keep the audiences on the edge of their conscience and compassionfor 2 hours and still entertained, bringing in positive messages. It'sa good movie that tells us the greatest events/moments were usually offthe screen, and a group of desperate, weak, sick and lost people canwork out their miracle out of the darkest war. The last moments werevery inspiring with the true mini-biographies of main characters.
Defiance is almost not biased or overdone, which gave it anotherquality, which allowed you to view this movie in many perspectives. Thescene in which the angry Jews beat the German prisoner to death is agood example of character-development and real history reflection. Youcan definitely interpret it in many different ways.
Like the other Zwick movies, Defiance was made with great artisticvalues. Camera works fantastically in the jungle. The changing seasonsand the wild defined the movie's desperate undertone. Not to mentionthe haunting music that is nominated for Oscar. I really like seeing agood director like Zwick taking notes from other great filmmakers andsurpasses himself. Way to go, Mr. Edward!.
Defiance is a great movie, and for all great movies' sake, don't try tocompare it with Shindler's List or Pianist. It's good enough on itsown. And, I still don't understand why people formed an expectationthat it's trying to make an artistic breakthrough like Shindler. Afterall, this is just about some very ordinary Jews trying to survive.
8.4/10
August 6th, 2009
It was only a matter of time before WWII/Holocaust drama and EdwardZwick found each other. "Defiance" is the perfect little-known underdogwar story that perfectly fits Zwick's ("Glory," "The Last Samurai,""Blood Diamond") tastes. Historical war drama with a heavy action slantas per usual, "Defiance" has all the elements that anyone who's enjoyedZwick's past work is looking for: lush cinematography, gripping actionand a strong leading male role played by an elite actor. At the sametime, for a Holocaust story that hasn't already received the silverscreen treatment (a rarity these days it seems), "Defiance" seems likeit's been done before and doesn't fully extend its audience theextraordinary experience its unique premise suggest it capable of.
For a different take on the Holocaust, "Defiance" follows the truestory of a band of Jews who averted capture in Belarussia but wereforced to hide out in its forests. Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber playTuvya and Zus Bielski, two daring, able-bodied and rather vengefulbrothers who lead the group of nearly 1,000 Jews.
The plot's most unlike the other Holocaust films in that it doesn'trequire pity and horror from its audience in order to becomeemotionally attached. That attachment is not as strong compared tothese other films, but in this film, the Jews are largely in charge oftheir destiny.
Craig's character has no less of a self-awarded license to kill thanJames Bond does when it comes to the liberties he takes killing Germansoldiers. At times it almost becomes tough watching Craig and Schreiberblowing Nazi brains out, and the whole revenge factor with theHolocaust is somewhat uncomfortable. I welcomed this feeling, but thescript doesn't pray on our challenge stomaching some of its images andjust lets them fizzle out before they can turn into something deep. Thecharacters never become as troubled as we are by what they do, whichreally holds "Defiance" back.
The neatest part of the script by Zwick and Clayton Frohman is its oldtestament imagery. The story of the Jewish people has sadly been aboutconstantly escaping persecution and the way the film tries to reawakenthe images of Exodus and running from the Egyptians and crossing theRed Sea really puts this film in a greater context of Jewish history.It's not about the tragedy of the Holocaust itself, it eludes to beinga lot more. Still, there's more to be desired on this front too — it'snot exactly made integral to the story being told.
There's a lot to enjoy about Zwick's film as there always is with him,even though the story underachieves more than many of his other filmshave. The action is exciting and modern without detracting from thehistorical context and the forest is captured beautifully on camera. Ifonly it had been written in a way that would've gripped its audiencewith tender, intimate scenes revealing character instead of speechesabout fighting. ~Steven C
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August 6th, 2009
Edward Zwick is a director that I think does not get the credit hedeserves. He has made one good film after another (with a couple ofduds here and there, sure) – Glory and Blood Diamond are especiallygood – and Defiance continues his streak, being one of his best filmsto date. Daniel Craig stars as Tuvia Bielski, a Jew living in Polandduring World War II. Accompanied by his brothers Zus (Liev Schreiber),Asael (Jamie Bell), and Aron (George MacKay), the Bielskis escape tothe deep forests to protect other fugitive Jews from the Nazi deathwave. Craig and Schreiber really excel in their roles as the toughBielski brothers – both are sort of ying-and-yang mirror versions ofeach other with Craig's Tuvia having more of a survivalist mentalityand Schreiber's Zus having more of a fighter mentality – intense in theface of the Nazi danger and crippled by the damage the Nazi's havecaused. Zwick is really a master of modern historical fiction films andmakes Defiance exciting, powerful, and thoughtful, but what makes thisfilm different from others in his filmography is how the viewer isimmediately dunked into the dark world of Nazi-occupied Eastern Europeand Jewish persecution without any placid set up. Other elements thatmake Zwick one of the best American directors around – exciting andwell filmed action, great performances from his cast, deepcinematography, etc. – also contribute to make Defiance a must see foranyone who likes a good World War II movie.
August 8th, 2009
A very interesting film about the real life story of the Bielskibrothers, who after barely escaping the massacre of their family by theGermans in Belorussia during World War II, moved to the nearby forestand formed a Jewish militia. Soon many more refugees join in (includingwomen, children and elderly people) and the group reached the lowthousands. With some aid from the Soviets, they successfully survivedthe war and even fought back in a number of occasions the Germanattacks (though apparently they did not engage in combat in real lifeas much as it appears in the film, very wisely, given the disproportionof forces between the two sides). Daniel Craig is a perfect in the roleof Tuvia Bielski, who as the elder of the brothers was the commander ofthe militias. Much of the humor in the movie is the contrast betweenthe tough guy nature of the two elder Bielski brothers and the far moreintellectual demeanor of the rest of the group, most of them urbanprofessional types who for the first time in their life have to learnhow to survive in the forest. Though the film is somewhat conventionalin its narrative, it is nevertheless both fascinating and beguiling.The beautiful, haunting forest where they hid is another attraction tothe movie (the film was shot in Lithuania, next door to Belorussiawhere the action took place). It is somewhat surprising this story wasnever brought to the screen in sixty something years (this probablyhave to do with the low profile that the Bielski brothers choose forthemselves after the war as well as for the fact that their alliancewith the Red Army made their saga somewhat politically uncomfortableduring the Cold War).