Author: Andrew Kerr
Review Date: 2009-06-08


Description:

Based on the extraordinary true story, the action-packed, epic tale DEFIANCE arrives on DVD and Blu-ray June 2, 2009 from Paramount Home Entertainment. Directed by Academy Award winner Edward Zwick (Blood Diamond), DEFIANCE stars Daniel Craig (Quantum of Solace), Liev Schreiber (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) and Jamie Bell (Flags Of Our Fathers) as brothers, simple farmers - outnumbered and outgunned - who turned a group of war refugees into powerful freedom fighters. The inspirational story of family, bravery and survival has been hailed as "gripping" (Larry King), "a must see" (Steve Oldfield, FOX TV) and "complex, engrossing and worth celebrating" (Richard Corliss, Time) and the film received Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for Best Original Score.


Defiance Review:

Defiance tells the story of the Bielski brothers, Tuvia (Craig), Zus (Schreiber), Aseal (Bell), and Aron (MacKay), during the German occupation of Belarussia during 1941 through 1943. The brothers narrowly escape the massacre of all of the Jews in their home town, including their parents, seeking temporary refuge in the dense nearby forest. After murdering the local collaborators for their involvement in this genocide, the brothers vow to continue the struggle against the Germans. Meeting other Jewish refugees, they organize into a clandestine settlement hidden from the eyes of nearby German forces.

As the group grows, the Bielski brothers emerge as leaders: organizing the construction of shelters, the production of food, and raids on local towns to acquire much needed food items. A daring visit to the local Jewish ghetto results in hundreds of additional refugees who escape the ghetto, preferring to struggle for freedom in the forest with the Bielski settlement than succumb to their imprisonment in the ghetto.

Using stolen weapons, the refugees stage several direct attacks on German forces which largely succeed but ultimately draw the fury of the German Army and result in several deaths. Tuvia has a change of heart in the use of violence against occupying forces, thereby frustrating is angrier and more militant brother Zus who decides to leave camp with several of the bravest warriors and join a local detachment of Soviet soldiers.

The Winter of 1941 is particularly harsh for the Bielski camp, and Tuvia is forced to shoot his prized horse to feed his people. Internal power struggles within the camp threatens the peace, and Tuvia briefly loses control over his people completely when a captured German officer is beaten to death by furious refugees. The action reaches a climax when dive bombers of the German Luftwaffe force the settlement to relocate. Driven into a confrontation with a German armor detachment, the refugees find themselves in a fight for their lives.

Daniel Craig, playing Tuvia Bielski, gives an excellent performance illustrating a leader struggling to maintain a civilized society in the cruel face of violence and hardship. He shows a tender side as well, unlike his cold demeanor as the new Bond. Liev Schreiber, portraying Craig's brother, also gives a fine performance portraying the frustrations of a Jew contemptuous of the passivity of his people. Principle photography is splendidly composed with on-location filming done in Lithuania, just miles from the location of the actual events.

Defiance is definitely worth owning. The action is intense yet realistically portrayed, which should enthuse history buffs. Themes of forceful resistance against a brutal occupier should resonate well with American audiences, though Defiance's portrayal of Germans is particularly two dimensional. Historical accuracy during parts of the film is disputed, and some have claimed the film glorifies the Bielski brothers in particular. Nevertheless, it is largely factual and paints a harsh yet realistic picture of this group's desperate struggle for freedom and for survival.

Special features on the Blu-ray version include a commentary with the director, a number of featurettes in HD (Defiance: Return To The Forest, Children of the Otriad: The Families Speak, and Bielski Partisan Survivors, as well as the original theatrical trailers.


Rating: A