IMDb > Defiance (2008)
Defiance
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Defiance (2008) -- This is the theatrical trailer for Defiance, directed by Edward Zwick
Defiance (2008) -- Clip: First 5 minutes of the film
Defiance (2008) -- Interview: Liev Schreiber "On preparing for his role as Zus Bielski"
Defiance (2008) -- This is the teaser trailer for Defiance, directed by Edward Zwick.
Defiance (2008) -- Trailer for this WWII era drama starring Daniel Craig

Overview

User Rating:
7.3/10   26,416 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 18% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Clayton Frohman (screenplay) and
Edward Zwick (screenplay) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Defiance on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
16 January 2009 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Freedom begins with an act of defiance!
Plot:
Jewish brothers in Nazi-occupied Eastern Europe escape into the Belarussian forests, where they join Russian resistance fighters and endeavor to build a village in order to protect themselves and about 1,000 Jewish non-combatants. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 2 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(385 articles)
Boos! & Whoop-doos!: 12 Months of Toilet Plunkers and Dumpster Diamonds!
 (From MovieWeb. 23 December 2009, 9:55 AM, PST)

Poster for The Eclipse
 (From GordonandtheWhale. 22 December 2009, 11:47 AM, PST)

User Comments:
Not a perfect WWII film, but overall, a compelling one about bravery and determination more (174 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Daniel Craig ... Tuvia Bielski

Liev Schreiber ... Zus Bielski

Jamie Bell ... Asael Bielski

Alexa Davalos ... Lilka Ticktin

Allan Corduner ... Shamon Haretz

Mark Feuerstein ... Isaac Malbin

Tomas Arana ... Ben Zion Gulkowitz
Jodhi May ... Tamara Skidelsky
Kate Fahy ... Riva Reich
Iddo Goldberg ... Yitzchak Shulman

Iben Hjejle ... Bella
Martin Hancock ... Peretz Shorshaty

Ravil Isyanov ... Viktor Panchenko

Jacek Koman ... Konstanty 'Koscik' Kozlowski

George MacKay ... Aron Bielski
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Defiance (Japan: English title) [en]
Defiance - I giorni del coraggio (Italy) [it]
Desafío (Argentina) [es]
El desafío (Peru) [es]
Enantiosi (Greece) [el]
Les insurgés (France) [fr]
Modstand (Denmark) [da]
Motstånd (Sweden) [sv]
Odpor (Slovakia) [sk]
Odpor (Czech Republic) [cs]
Opór (Poland) [pl]
Prkos (Croatia) [hr]
Resistencia (Spain) [es]
Resistentes (Portugal) [pt]
Uhma (Finland) [fi]
Um Ato de Liberdade (Brazil) [pt]
Unbeugsam (Germany) [de]
Vastuhakk (Estonia) [et]
more
MPAA:
Rated R for violence and language.
Runtime:
137 min
Country:
Color:
Black and White (archive footage) | Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The German tank which appears near the end of the film is a replica of a Panzer III which was created by modifying a Swiss Panzer 61 tank. It was one of two such vehicles previously used in Enemy at the Gates (2001). more
Goofs:
Errors in geography: Near the funeral scene, a mourning dove's distinctive call is heard. There are no mourning doves outside of North America, and this film is set near Russia. more
Quotes:
Lazar: [turning around to face the camp] Halt who goes there!
Tuvia Bielski: Lazar, i'm coming from the camp, you only say that to people going towards the camp! The Danger is out there, not in here!
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in 81st Annual Academy Awards (2009) (TV) more
Soundtrack:
Kupalinka more

FAQ

What type of mock up is the Panzer 3?
How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
When Russians or Germans speak, there are subtitles, but the Bielskis speak English to each other, what language are they supposed to be speaking?
more
8 out of 13 people found the following comment useful.
Not a perfect WWII film, but overall, a compelling one about bravery and determination, 1 August 2009
8/10
Author: Electrified_Voltage from Guelph, Ontario, Canada

I first heard about this movie earlier this year, while it was playing it theatres. I knew it was about the Holocaust, and that it starred Daniel Craig. Unlike many people, I like Craig's portrayal of James Bond, which was what introduced me to the actor. (I had previously seen him in the cheesy "A Kid in King Arthur's Court", but didn't know who he was.) I didn't see "Defiance" on the big screen, but it is now out in the DVD format. A copy of it caught my eye at the video store just yesterday, so I decided to rent it. Before I watched it, I knew it wasn't the most highly regarded film set during the Holocaust, and was criticized by some for historical inaccuracy (obviously), but after seeing it myself, I have to say I'm impressed.

In World War II, as Jewish people in Eastern Europe are hunted down by the Nazis, the Bielski brothers manage to escape from a massacre. After they discover family members of theirs have been killed on their farm, they take refuge in the forest nearby. They meet other Jewish refugees there, who soon unite with them for protection. As time goes by, the number of refugees in the group increases, with people of all different ages, forming an entire community. They are lead by the two elder brothers, Tuvia and Zus Bielski, who disagree on what to do with them, leading to sibling rivalry. As Tuvia tries to help the people in the camp and make sure they follow his rules, they face struggle for survival as they face conflict amongst themselves, starvation, Nazis to fight off (especially when any of them find out where the refugees are), and harsh weather conditions when winter comes!

Around the beginning, I was already intrigued, seeing some gripping scenes, such as the brothers finding family members slain on the farm. I wasn't that consistently intrigued by the entire film, it's not perfect, but I was by a lot of it. There was enough to leave me impressed. One thing I can praise this film for is its mostly strong script. There are some weak spots (including some of the romantic scenes), but most of the script is strong, with steady dialogue. Being a film about the Holocaust, you would obviously expect it to be dark and moving, which it often is. With the struggle and tragedies the people in the camp face, plus the bravery and determination, much of the film is touching, especially later on. There's also some nice cinematography here, with beautiful scenery, and I can't complain much about the acting. Most of the cast put on steady performances, including Daniel Craig, which I was expecting, knowing he was a good actor after seeing him play James Bond.

As I said, this film has faced criticism for historical inaccuracy, but before I read any of this criticism, I knew from experience that it obviously existed. I think I've yet to see a film based on a true story that has never been criticized for inaccuracy. For that reason, although I'm no history buff, I don't expect movies like this to show all truth and no fiction. However, that doesn't mean I'm going to dismiss them all just because of that. Even if "Defiance" isn't that good for a history lesson, it's still a well made film. At the beginning, it does say, "A true story" in the text on the screen, and it would have been better if it said, "BASED ON a true story," instead. Still, while some people will complain about inaccuracy, and I have no problem with that, I have to praise this recent blockbuster for other aspects. Judging it merely as a film and not a biography, it's a good war drama. Not a perfect one, but a good one.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Defiance (2008)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
The Red army saved us all and only get *beep* for it in movies. pheters
Defiance aka Lord of the rings? arildoaim
So what was the true events in this movie? dist_roy
yes, the Soviets were at least as bad as the Nazi marius_em
Quite possibly, the worst WWII-themed movie EVER!!! obelix99
historically inacurate movie matedom
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