Defiance

Based on the true story, Daniel Craig stars as Tuvia Bielski – a Jewish man determined to live. It’s Poland in 1941, and Tuvia’s family has been torn apart by the war and the Nazi extermination of Jews throughout Europe. To escape certain death, Tuvia and his brothers, Zus (Liev Schreiber) and Asael (Jamie Bell), flee to the woods of Belarussia hoping to stay hidden until they can come up with a better plan. However, as the war continues, more and more Jews are fleeing to the same woods, and the brothers start to form a community.

How long can everyone stay hidden in the woods?

Will everyone accept Tuvia as their leader?

Will everyone stay peaceful?

I feel like I write this for every movie about the Holocaust, but I am always amazed that there are more and more stories out there just as you think you have heard them all. Director/co-writer Ed Zwick and co-writer Clayton Frohman rightfully center the drama and story on the brothers and the attempts each member of this society makes to live life in the middle of turmoil. Craig is perfect as the more humane and tender leader trying to do what is right when he has not exactly done that throughout his life, while Schreiber is the perfect counterpoint as the more aggressive and angry brother who wants to fight back, no matter the odds.

The audience will be moved by the characters’ efforts to embrace life and love in the face of such tragedy, but Zwick and Frohman go a bit too far with the Tuvia as Moses theme and Defiance starts to drag on and on once we hit the mid-point of the film.

Defiance is rated R for violence and language.