Defiance

[skizzerflake]

Any comments on Defiance? I thought that it was pretty good, not great, but I understand that very inflamed opinions about the historical events portrayed in the movie have obscured its cinematic virtue. I didn't know the real story when I saw the movie and some web research hasn't made it much clearer due to the strong opinions that appear to obscure truth, but as a movie, I was completely engaged.

 

[MatthewB.]

I thought the actual footage they used at the beginning was a very bold statement and made you realize the gravity of all that happened and helped you prepare for what they went through. I felt they should have toned down the scenes with Leib Schreiber they kind of made those parts "Hollywood" with the action hero taking charge theme, considering this was a movie about the life and death struggles of those hiding out in the woods. Not a feel good kind of movie, but felt like one I was glad to have watched, because I had never heard the story before. Daniel Craig naturally did an awesome job.

 

[skizzerflake]

I think this is one of those times when it's wise to remind people that "it's a movie, not history". Good history doesn't make good movies because things are not simple and are not resolved in 120 minutes. The story of the Bielski brothers has a lot to do with who's ox is being gored. The objections seem to arise from ethnic Poles who's ancestors were robbed or killed by the Jewish rebels, who themselves were always one step from death either by starvation or the Nazis. This is an ugly but inspiring story that most audiences couldn't deal with if the movie told the whole story.