Defy the Third Reich - Daniel Craig saves citizens during World Wart Two

Rating: R for violence and language Running Time: 137 Minutes

In 1941, during WWII, three Jewish brothers try to escape the Gestapo’s brutality on the Polish Jews. They choose to hide in a forest that they had played in during their childhood and try to survive, relying only on their knowledge and some limited resources.

Soon, other families learn of their hiding, and they come to them to seek refuge. Tuvia Bielski, the oldest brother played by Daniel Craig, becomes the dominant brother of the group, followed by Zus, the middle brother played by Liev Schreiber, is more aggressive in his actions than Tuvia, and decides to get what he wants through force. Asael played by Jamie Bell is the youngest, and is the voice of reasoning and compassion in the family because he is still a child.

All the brothers exhibit different personalities that match well together to create a diplomatic group of leaders. The brothers, and the families that have come to live with them, build a community and rely on each other to survive until the war ends.

This film has great juxtaposition between the contrasting themes of war and death, and family and community. The exiles are required to live in the woods and gather their supplies for the community for themselves. All of the characters grow from this experience and become a family that never gives up and defies the odds.

The acting is fantastic and Schreiber has never done a better job.

The cinematography is breathtaking and the editing of the camera angles and shots were done perfectly. The outdoor wedding during the snow shower is completely serene.

The way the movie is shot, even though there is a lot of blood, it’s not gory. The scenes are still effective in getting the point across.

This movie is inspiring and should make the audience appreciate what they have in life compared to what the Polish Jews had to endure.

It is unbelievable that this is a true story. Because of these brothers hundreds of people were kept out of concentration camps.

There are numerous themes and life lessons that flow throughout the film. It is definitely a movie to go see. It is a great combination of action, drama, romance, and surprisingly, a little dose of comedy, such as the mid-movie wedding.

This film has received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Score. This film should have been nominated for Best Cinematography also, but apparently there are movies out there that are more picturesque than Defiance, but nothing comes to my mind.

Defiance receives a five out of five stars rating because it is action packed, dramatic, contained humorous moments, and because it is such an inspiring film.

By Ashley Stewart Staff Writer