Defiance (2008) R - 4½ Stars

There was a time when I hated to tell anyone my ancestry was German as I didn't want to be compared to a Nazi or be related to anyone who could be so revolting. After seeing movies like this one, based on a true story, I question my ancestry once again. A very touching story of three Jewish brothers living in Nazi occupied Poland. They barely escape death as they're away from the village when Nazi's come and kill it's occupants, along with their parents. But they refuse to role over and play dead, and vow revenge on these killers. With no where to go, they head deep into the woods to plot their next move. As more Jews learn of their defiance to the Nazi's, they travel to the woods to join up with the brothers. Even though they have no means to support this new community, more keep showing up. I love at the end when they kick butt and make the Nazi's run the other way. Beautiful cinematography and the acting is well done. A near perfect movie in my book.

It's 1941, the middle of WWII, and the Nazi's have begone invading Belarus, Poland where three brothers, Tuvia (Daniel Craig), Zus (Liev Schreiber), and Asael Bielski (Jamie Bell), live. While the two older brothers are away, the younger brother, Asael, narrowly escapes death as the Nazi's come into their village killing everyone in sight, including their parents. As the older brothers return and witness the emotional scars left on Asael, they vow to get their revenge on the every Nazi responsible. No one will chase them from their land.

With only a few bullets for protection, they will seek revenge on the Nazi's directly responsible for killing their village. As word gets out of these brave hero's, other Jew flock to the woods where Tuvia evokes their pride as he teaches them to protect and fend for themselves so their culture can survive. He becomes a leader of this new community while Zus see these new settlers as intruders. The brothers will have to come to term with doing the right thing.

Awards:

2008 - Las Vegas Film Critics Association - Best Score

Paramount Vantage
Director: Edward Zwick
Writers: Clay Frohman, Edward Zwick
Producers: Edward Zwick, Pieter Jan Brugge, Roland Tec

I viewed 12/09