Movie Review: Defiance (2008)

Synopsis:

In 1941 as WWII was ongoing, three Jewish brothers, Tuvia Bielski (Daniel Craig), Zus Bielski (Liev Schreiber), and Asael Bielski (Jamie Bell) hide in the Belorussian woods after their father is murdered by the local police. While there, they face all the horrible moral conflicts of war and mange to save 1200 wandering souls from the Holocaust. It was based on a true story.

Tuvia and Zus

Review:

This was a pretty typical war movie and the acting was strong. There was quite a bit of violence and bloodshed, but it was not gratuitous. After all, it was a war. The melodrama could have been cut down a bit and is most evident in the trailer, which I am not even going to post here as I find it so offensive.

Tuvia tries to convince a community to join him in the forest

However, this is a story that must be told. The heroism of the three brothers was truly unique. These are the few Jews who stood up and resisted and were willing to fight for their lives and those of their race. They formed a working community where all were participants, and outlaws were not tolerated. How they managed to survive in the forest was amazing and fascinating to watch. Tuvia was quite a leader and his brother, Zus, quite a fighter if the movie is anywhere close to the truth.

There are romantic situations, but very little skin. There is no sex. I was so disappointed.

Tuvia and Lilka Ticktin (Alexa Davalos)

Asael and Tamara Skidelsky (Jodhi May)

I highly recommend this movie if you are a Daniel Craig fan and/or need to see another Holocaust flick (bonus - in this one the Jews win!).

I give it:

*** of five stars