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January 19, 2009

Defiance puts a face on genocide

Defiance opened in First-run theaters Friday, Jan 15. It is, in my opinion a truly touching and moving film.

Contrasted with the state of Israel today, which is fighting back via air-strikes and ground invasion of the Gaza Strip, attempting to survive in the face of the racial hatred of the Hamas and the Muslim religion’s attempt, according to what I have read, to exterminate the Israelis. The timing of the release of this movie could be considered ironic, celebrating — as it does — the courage and will to live of a group of displaced Jews attempting to escape the purges and death camps of their enemy.

That said, this is a story worth telling, especially as I was largely unaware of the large resistance forces by Jews against the Nazis.

I enjoyed Defiance immensely — there was humor and heartache, with a liberal dose of action. Not a brainless action movie, enough of a story to make it memorable, and fast-paced enough to keep me from becoming bored.

The movie is visually stunning. From the authentic weaponry and uniforms to the rich and colorful Lithuanian locations.

Defiance falls flat during some points and as with a number of war movies, the Germans are depicted as war machines of death without remorse, if you can overlook these flaws I think it is an enjoyable film and in its entirety, Defiance is an overwhelming movie that doesn’t glamorize the war but shows the intense reality behind it all.

When brothers try to decide to preserve the family and what to do next, there’s bound to be clash, disagreements and temporary separation.

The story is about Jews who are walking into the wilderness, trying to stay alive. It sounds a lot like Exodus, and just like that book in the bible itself, Defiance shows how tough it is to stick together. There’s a group trying to discourage a number of people, some are complaining, some think it’s best to go back to the ghetto, some start questioning the leader, and some decide to take power into their own hands and try to divide and conquer.

The principal theme that resounds throughout the entire movie, to quote the protagonist, Tuvia, “We may be hunted like animals, but we will not become animals.”

As the leader, Daniel Craig's character, Tuvia, keeps getting confronted by this. He tries to be an idealist, and his brother, Liev's Schreiber’s character, Zus, thinks that kind of mindset would only invite threat and danger.

But as the story progresses, Tuvia gradually realizes that they're in the middle of war and the lines between justice and humanity become uncertain in desperate times.

Cast: Alexa Davalos, Iben Hjejle, Ravil Isyanov, Mark Feuerstein, Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber and Jamie Bell

Defiance

Rating: (*** 1/2 out of *****)

Synopsis (Courtesy of Paramount Vantage) Based on an extraordinary true story, defiance is an epic tale of family, honor, vengeance and salvation in World War II. The year is 1941 and the Jews of Eastern Europe are being massacred by the thousands. Managing to escape certain death, three brothers take refuge in the dense surrounding woods they have known since childhood. There they begin their desperate battle against the Nazis. Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber and Jamie Bell star as brothers who turn a primitive struggle to survive into something far more consequential – a way to avenge the deaths of their loved ones by saving thousands of others.

At first it is all they can do to stay alive. But gradually, as whispers of their daring spreads, they begin to attract others – men and women, young and old – willing to risk everything for the sake of even a moment’s freedom. Tuvia (Craig) is a reluctant leader and his decisions are challenged by his brother, Zus (Schreiber) who worries that Tuvia’s idealistic plans will doom them all. Asael (Bell) is the youngest – caught between his brothers’ fierce rivalry. As a brutal winter descends, they work to create a community, and to keep faith alive when all humanity appeared to be lost.

MPAA Rating: R

Running Time: 137 minutes

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