Defiance

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Defiance

R,

2009,

2h 16m,

History/

Drama/

War

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Watchlist

58%

186 Reviews

Tomatometer

72%

250,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

58%

Tomatometer

186 Reviews

72%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

In 1941, Nazi soldiers are slaughtering Eastern European Jews by the thousands. Three brothers, Tuvia (Daniel Craig), Zus (Liev Schreiber) and Asael (Jamie Bell), manage to escape and take refuge in the forest where they played in childhood. Seeking a way to avenge the deaths of their loved ones, the brothers turn their daily struggle for survival into a battle against the Nazis. As news of their exploits spreads, others join the fray, willing to risk their lives for even brief freedom.

Critics Consensus

Professionally made but artistically uninspired, Ed Zwick's story of Jews surviving WWII in the Belarus forest lacks the emotional punch of the actual history.

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Sandra Hall

Sydney Morning Herald

May 8, 2009

3.5/5

Schreiber and Craig make a well-matched pair of bulls. Schreiber's volatility is a nice foil to the taciturn intelligence that makes Craig such a great Bond.

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Jake Wilson

The Age (Australia)

May 1, 2009

3.5/5

Zwick's limitations as an action director seem linked to a troubled conscience: he seems conscious of a need to entertain, but worried that his audience will take too much pleasure in the spectacle of vengeance.

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Peter Rainer

Christian Science Monitor

Jan 16, 2009

B

As a piece of historical redress, a great service has been done in bringing this narrative to the screen.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Dec 15, 2023

2.5/4

Zwick is ardently devoted to entertainment value, even if it means sacrificing the dignity of his otherwise stimulating story.

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

Aug 20, 2022

4/5

It doesn’t take many risks and it never strays too far from the more conventional survival movie path. But it’s a very well made film that captures the look and tone of the period.

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Jul 19, 2021

Every minute that the cast and crew shot Defiance on location in Lithuania was worth it.

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Abraham W

Jan 9, 2019

Incredible, well written masterpiece - a keep you glued to your seat thrilling drama based on a true story. Excellent acting and thought provoking movie, a Must See for WWII history buffs.

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Anakin M

Nov 12, 2018

I really loved this. So many important points and a lot of humor. There is a moment when the brother showed up that was so moving.

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Albus W

Nov 9, 2018

One of the best movies I've watched this year by far!!

Luke R

Jul 26, 2018

A really good story that deserves to be told.

Theodore G

Mar 21, 2018

sincere and well acted but nothing quite lifts this film off the well TRODDEN path.

Hagrid R

Mar 20, 2018

Fascinating piece of history that deserved to be made into a film. Nice to see Me Bond, Daniel Craig appear for a gritty role that involves some ruthless choices in order to survive. Let down by some absolutely pants action scenes, shooting from the hip saves the day - and stylistically not as gritty as the subject matter might require.

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Edward Zwick

Director

Daniel Craig

Tuvia Bielski

Liev Schreiber

Zus Bielski

Jamie Bell

Asael Bielski

Alexa Davalos

Lilka Ticktin

Allan Corduner

Shimon Haretz

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Synopsis

In 1941, Nazi soldiers are slaughtering Eastern European Jews by the thousands. Three brothers, Tuvia (Daniel Craig), Zus (Liev Schreiber) and Asael (Jamie Bell), manage to escape and take refuge in the forest where they played in childhood. Seeking a way to avenge the deaths of their loved ones, the brothers turn their daily struggle for survival into a battle against the Nazis. As news of their exploits spreads, others join the fray, willing to risk their lives for even brief freedom.

Director: Edward Zwick
Producer: Edward Zwick, Pieter Jan Brugge
Screenwriter: Edward Zwick, Clayton Frohman
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Bedford Falls Productions, Grosvenor Park Productions
Rating: R (Violence|Language)
Genre: History, Drama, War
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 16, 2009, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 10, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $28.6M
Runtime: 2h 16m

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