DVD Reviews

Defiance – DVD Review

By Jeff Swindoll Jun 15, 2009, 13:50 GMT

Daniel Craig ("James Bond: Quantum Of Solace") stars as Tuvia Bielski, an ordinary citizen turned hero, in this action-packed epic of family, honor, vengeance and salvation. "Defiance" is a riveting adventure that showcases the extraordinary true story of the Bielski brothers, simple farmers - outnumbered and outgunned - who turned a group of war refugees into powerful freedom fighters. Tuvia, along with his unyielding brother, Zus (Liev Schreiber, "X-Men Origins: ...more

The Bielski brothers in some ways reminded me of Oskar Schindler. Both of their stories were largely forgotten until a feature film was made and both saved about the same number of Jews from being killed by the Nazis. They were both reluctant heroes, but ending up affecting many people with their heroism.

In 1941 Poland, the Nazis have invaded the country and are rounding up all of the Jews. If they’re not killed the Jews are taken to ghettos to be under the thumb of the Nazis. The Bielski brothers, Tuvia (Daniel Craig), Zus (Li ev Schreiber), Asael (Jamie Bell), and Aron (George MacKay), find that their parents have been killed by the local police.

The brothers escape to the forest and live off the land, but vow to avenge their parent’s death. They find that others have fled to the woods and they form a band of diverse people to try and survive. As time goes on they form an unlikely band to try and keep one step ahead of the Nazis and survive.

Tales of World War II are full of atrocities as far as the Nazis are concerned. They took an unholy efficiency in attempting to wipe out a people. The images of the concentration camps are pure horror both in their piles of bodies and the emaciated survivors. Some few were able to remain free from the Nazis, thought their presence was a constant threat.

The Bielski brothers fled to the forest to lay in wait and avoid the bloodthirsty killers. They quickly found that they were not alone and formed an uneasy community as they attempted survival. This was not easy as the Nazis controlled the surrounding countryside and food and provisions were hard to come by. It only got worse as winter set in and disease did as well.

Tuvia was the self-appointed leader of the group and this led to some tension in the community as Zus wanted to take a more active role in attacking the Nazis. Tuvia was more concerned with staying away from them until the war was over. Zus eventually left and joined up with the Soviet military, but found that anti-Semitism was not just something the Nazi troops fostered.

Though hardship was their constant companion, you felt sympathy for these displaced people as they claw to survive in the forest. Defiance would also be given ample publicity as Daniel Craig had assumed the mantle of James Bond. The acting is great, the story interesting, and so forgotten that you won’t know who will make it out of the woods alive and who might not. Zwick covered similar ground in Glory and knows his way around such historical events.

Defiance is presented in anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1) and is enhanced for 16x9 televisions. Special features include a commentary by director Edward Zwick. The 26 minute “Return to the Forest” details the making of the film, the 13 minute “Children of the Otriad: The Families Speak” interviews the families of those saved, the 2 minute “Bielski Partisan Survivors” are photos taken by Zwick of the survivors. There are also previews of other Paramount DVDs.

Defiance tells of some of the heroics by ordinary people during a very dark period of time. It’s only enhanced by the fine acting and suspenseful battles. A great picture that shows us a side of history that we should never forget.