Daniel Craig in Defiance
2008 finished with three WWII films (Miracle at St. Anna, Boy in the Striped Pajamas, and Valkyrie), and 2009 continues the trend with Defiance. Even though Striped Pajamas had the least amount of action, I would say it was by far the strongest of the four films with Defiance coming in a close 2nd. But I wonder where this fad is coming from, and how much more Hollywood thinks they can wring out of us before people stop watching.
I enjoyed Defiance, and the true-story aspect of the film. In fact, if it hadn’t been based on a true story, I don’t think it would have had so great an impact as it did. But the weight of the atrocities of this war, as well as the heroic efforts of those who refused to be mere victims, certainly came through in a story worth being told.
Focusing in on the three Bielski brothers, Tuvia (Daniel Craig), Zus (Liev Schreiber) and Azael (Jamie Bell), the plot unfolds as the band of brothers hide out in the woods from the Germans who are systematically killing off Jews in the region. The growth of the resistance the real story of the movie. As more and more people take refuge in the area, it begins as a matter of survival for them all to band together. From a means of support and survival to the development of intentional resistance, the leadership in the brothers’ lives is mirrored in the larger group – growing, straining, coming undone and finding redemption.
There are certainly other bit players in the film, but they merely orbit the stars. And while it’s a powerful story, it does seem to try to stretch itself onto more film than was needed. Half an hour less would have sufficed and still been true to the plot and characters. Much of the time spent in the forest seemed like filler and could have been cut. And while that time may have been included to bring into sharper focus the harsh and bleak conditions, it never seems that bleak. Yes, we see a scarcity of food, and people beginning to fight among themselves, but then it moves on to other things. You never really feel that bleakness in your gut.
You do feel, however, the evil that prompts the story. And as long as we deal with evil in our world, movies like this need to be made. Attempted genocide must not be forgotten or turned away from. Remembering it in films like this and Hotel Rwanda serve to honor the fallen and to prompt good people to live out what’s right. Celebrating what was right about the Bielski brothers is worth your time.
Rating: 
a good movie. a powerful story. the cosequences of those who decide they’re “superior” over those judged “inferior”. these two positions are infinitely variable and interchangeable. slavery. apartheid. rawanda. it’s a story that bears repeating and is done so very well in this movie. it’s heartening to know that some of them did not go quietly but fought back. my respect for daniel craig as an actor went up a notch.
Very beautiful movie and I really have sympathy with Jews.. world should see these movies and see the atrocities and unfairness on them. Everyone cries when Jews bomb arabs because they launch rockets at them but no one cares the life of jews.. Jews will survive and will not be a mere victim… World will see Jews are not just people of book but people who dont believe in killing others but also knows how to save their children. Freedom is not free and the price of freedom is blood of barbarians.