Humanity endured the Holocaust and in the dense Naliboki forest of Belorussia a group of Jews found hope. “Defiance” recounts the true story of four Jewish brothers – Tuvia (Daniel Craig) Zus (Liev Schreiber) Asael (Jaime Bell) and Aron Bielski (George MacKay) – and their escape from death by evading German forces and creating a community of refugee Jews in a forest familiar to them since their youth.
The story is an adaptation of Dr. Cheama Tec’s nonfiction book also titled “Defiance.” Edward Zwick director of “Blood Diamond” and “The Last Samurai transfers the Bielskis’ incredible story to film in a manner that allows the audience to fully imagine the dangers that the encampment in the woods held.
Initially, it is only the three older brothers and their much younger brother Aron who are in hiding. But they come to discover more Jews in the forest, and as word of their outpost spreads, even more refugee Jews come to join them. Tuvia becomes the natural leader of the forest community. His brother Zus disagrees with Tuvia’s non-violent policy and argues that murderous revenge will bring justice for the loved ones they have lost.
Our revenge is to live Tuvia said. We may be hunted like animals but we will not become animals.”
After a physical brawl that releases the brothers’ underlying tensions Zus chooses to join the Russian resistance army taking several other men with him. As Zus releases his hatred for the Germans through violence Tuvia fights for survival. Survival he says is his freedom.
The community faces numerous challenges including two hasty retreats to avoid encroaching German forces. As they flee their encampment for the first time the Jews are forced to leave the winter shelters they built. Upon discovering the Jews’ second encampment German forces employ an unrelenting air strike followed by a direct ground attack that kills many Jews. Before settling in a new location they encounter the Germans in an open clearing this time with the help of Zus and Russian resistance forces.
The Jews remained in their third camp for two years building a school and a makeshift hospital before emerging from the forest in 1944.
Zwick uses ordinary details of life to show the extraordinary circumstances of the Jews. While basic human characteristics like physical attraction and love seem incongruous considering the Jews’ circumstances it is the portrayal of those innate human emotions that make “Defiance” so realistic. Furthermore Daniel Craig known for his role as a secret agent in the ever-popular James Bond films adds his own authenticity to the film by speaking impeccable Russian.
Director of Photography Eduardo Serra uses cinematography to contrast the hope of community with fighting. Serra blends a scene of Asael’s wedding celebration with a one of the Russian resistance forces fighting. Celebratory clapping further contrasts against raining gunfire. The result provides both visual and auditory depth and complexity to the film.
Beautiful violin music also accompanies the film thanks to James Newton Howard a seven-time Oscar nominee. Also despite the heavy subject matter the film provides multiple moments of comic relief.
Ultimately “Defiance” brings a new perspective to a story that should never be forgotten. Unlike the victimization of Jews presented in other Holocaust films “Defiance” is an epic story of courage and unbelievable human strength.
As Asael affirms “Nothing is impossible. What we have done is impossible.”