Defiance

Defiance is rated R: for violence and language.

It’s 1941 and tens of thousands of Jewish people are being hunted in Eastern Europe—but three brothers are determined to take control of their destiny. Tuvia (Daniel Craig), Zus (Live Schreiber) and Asael Bielski (Jamie Bell) escape into the Belarussian forest surrounding their community after watching the horrific murders of their parents, extended family and friends by invading Nazi troops.

At first, the three siblings are focused on their own survival. Yet Tuvia is determined to help others and brings additional refugees into their midst. After Asael goes on a short expedition, he also returns with more men, women and children. Eventually the strays number into the hundreds and so do the stresses from the ever-increasing need to protect and feed these people. Zus is especially concerned and repeatedly voices his displeasure over his older brother’s overtly charitable attitude.

As winter approaches, the destitute souls build shelters and select a few individuals to go on food foraging missions. However, with the burgeoning population and Hitler’s army closing in, any hope of staying put for the coldest season is dashed and the settlers are forced to become nomads again. Still, Tuvia remains determined to lead his rag-tag group and live by his priority of protecting Jews as opposed to hunting Nazis—a view not shared by Zus who instead joins with the local Russian resistance fighters.

Based on true historical events surrounding this overlooked band of brothers and their self-named Bielski Otriad (or partisan detachment), this gripping film delivers a literally chilling view of what these people endured as they attempted to live as well as possible in makeshift camps amongst the dense trees. It shows the siblings as the heroes they were, but not without faults or emotions that sometimes created discord and contempt between them.

Dealing with topics surrounding the cruelties these survivors faced, this movie contains some strong language and graphic depictions of people being shot and physically abused. Nazi soldiers are seen rounding up women and children like cattle—then in another scene a long ditch filled with corpses is shown.

Within the camp, there is talk of choosing a “forest wife” or “forest husband” between people who may or may not already be married (in truth there was no way to determine if one’s spouse was still alive, and the sad reality was many had perished). Sexual content is minimal, with only one couple seen kissing and waking up together the next morning. There is also talk of a woman who was raped by a Nazi soldier, but details are not explicit.

Wanting to illustrate the fact that not all Jews were victims of Hitler’s rage, the filmmakers succeed at showing how attitudes of determination and defiance allowed many to weather the storm. While this serious material is unsuitable for children, the examples of these brave defenders may be appreciated by older teens and adults. Tuvia is especially noteworthy because of his willingness to put his own life at risk to save others.

Cast: Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, Jamie Bell.
Studio: 2008 Paramount Vantage
Website: Official site for Defiance.

Based on historical accounts of Jews who were determined to hide from the wrath of Hitler’s invasions, this film details the efforts made by three brothers to protect a growing group of refugees. Frequent violence includes scenes of soldiers killing innocent people, including women, children and the elderly. Shootings are portrayed on-screen, and people are rounded up and taken away in trucks. Others are thrown, injured and killed during a bombing raid. Verbal threats and racial slurs are heard. A horse is shot off-screen. Sexual content is limited to discussions of people taking “forest wives” and “forest husbands”—many of these people are married, but have no idea if their spouses have survived. One couple is seen in bed, sexual activity is implied. A discussion occurs about a pregnant woman who was raped by a Nazi. A man unknowingly urinates on another man who is hiding. Profanities are moderately frequent, and include about a half-dozen sexual expletives, scatological terms, and religious profanities. Cigarettes smoking and alcohol use (sometimes to the point of impairment) are depicted.

A search on the Internet for “Bielski Otriad” will result in many sites that have additional information on these heroic brothers. Here is an account of one person’s interactions with them and their camp deep in the forest: http://www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/Lida-District/visit-partisans.htm

The Bielski Brothers were not the only ones to rebel against the events and horrors occurring during World War II. Hitler’s own officers made assassination plans as recounted in the movie Valkyrie (also releasing in December 2008). A Jewish father uses humor and a positive attitude as weapons to help his son endure the cruelties of a concentration camp in the movie Life is Beautiful.

Home Video Notes: Defiance

Release Date: 2 June 2009

Defiance releases to home video on DVD and Blu-ray. The movie is presented in wide screen with audio tracks in Dolby Digital Surround -English (on DVD) and Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby True HD 5.1 - English (on Blu-ray). Subtitles are available in English, French and Spanish.

Bonus materials include:

- Audio Commentary (by director Edward Zwick)

- Featurettes (Return to the Forest: The Making of Defiance, Children of The Otriad: The Families Speak and Bielski Partisan Survivors)