Defiance
April 21st 2009 03:33
IN 1941, the Belarusian Bielski brothers took on Hitler’s invading army and managed to save more than a thousand fellow Jews from certain death at the hands of the SS and Nazi sympathisers.
Daniel Craig plays Tuvia Bielski, the leader of an ever-growing group of refugees and resistance fighters who take to the forest, determined to survive against overwhelming odds. When Tuvia’s more militant brother Zus (Liev Shreiber) disagrees with his methods, he leaves to join a band of Soviet partisans. The two groups form a loose alliance and continue the struggle for two years, not only against the Germans, but also against hunger, disease and the harsh eastern European winter.
It’s surprising that this incredible true story hasn’t been told on film before now, and it’s refreshing to see Jews being portrayed as heroes and survivors rather than just victims. Craig’s accent falters occasionally and the movie could perhaps be slightly shorter than its 136 minutes, but neither of those minor criticisms makes the tale any less fascinating.
Daniel Craig plays Tuvia Bielski, the leader of an ever-growing group of refugees and resistance fighters who take to the forest, determined to survive against overwhelming odds. When Tuvia’s more militant brother Zus (Liev Shreiber) disagrees with his methods, he leaves to join a band of Soviet partisans. The two groups form a loose alliance and continue the struggle for two years, not only against the Germans, but also against hunger, disease and the harsh eastern European winter.
It’s surprising that this incredible true story hasn’t been told on film before now, and it’s refreshing to see Jews being portrayed as heroes and survivors rather than just victims. Craig’s accent falters occasionally and the movie could perhaps be slightly shorter than its 136 minutes, but neither of those minor criticisms makes the tale any less fascinating.
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