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Defiance
(2008)
One of the most important things I ask of a film of this kind, a dramatic retelling of a painful time in the lives of millions of people all over the world, is does it bring anything? When I say this, I mean in order for it to be worthwhile doing, it needs to have something to say that, more often than not, has not been said before. If it doesn't, then it classifies merely as wallowing or even, god forbid, unnecessary cruelty to those that understand its decent, if flawed, intentions. If it's a fresh perspective or even direction on a well told story that awakens everyone who watches to a new vision, an uplifting premise or even a soulful understanding that didn't exist before, only then can it say it deserves to be.
This is, of course, before anyone decides if it's actually any good or not. A true and graceful ballet of a story may well be worthy, but it is only as good as the person telling it. And so in walks Edward Zwick (Glory, Legends of the Fall, Blood Diamond, About Last Night). Here is a man that is more than capable of literally leading a cast through the most treacherous and dangerous of waters. In the hands of many, this project could have been a shambolic, rambling and fruitless enterprise. Zwick has a habit of producing pixel perfect scenes that you can freeze in time and simply stare agog at the detail in every frame. The same is true here with elegantly choreographed battles, realistic pyrotechnics and moments of consideration and pauses for reflection that tug at you to get closer to the characters, for every slight nuance that Zwick withdraws from the protagonists.
Zwick does have an obvious advantage from the outset of course, just so as not to praise him too highly. This is a true story. It is one of courage and struggle, of family. An ode to facing insurmountable odds and staring them down. It has a mortal enemy in the guise of the SS and a band of heroes, brothers, children, wives and mothers who all show the best of the human spirit when overcoming the films ever present lurking nemesis.
As if to compensate for his no-brainers, Daniel Craig again delivers the kind of performance that I would like his Bond to produce. In Flashbacks of a Fool, he made the film possible with his name alone, to wonderfully satisfying effect. Here, the same may not be true of his influence, but you have to admire a man for actually doing what he loves, even if it also means doing things he may not like so much, in order to realise them. Both Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber shine here and I might go out on a limb and say this is the best performance of Schreiber's career so far.
Tuvia (Craig) and Zus (Schreiber) along with younger brother Asael (Jamie Bell) are forced to retreat into the Belorussian forests when the Nazis come a'knocking in the early years of World War II and kill every Jew they can lay their hands on. What starts as a simple yet disorganised escape turns, more inexplicably for Zus, into a movement to make a home in the woods, housing refugees that they either come across by accident, or actively go searching to save. At what point Tuvia decided that this was the plan is not clear, but it seems that greatness was thrust upon him. Craig plays the put-upon hero with a heart of gold only too well, so much so, in fact, that before long, whispers begin about Tuvia's ability to command such a burgeoning group of people at all.
Almost inevitably, there is a battle of command between the two eldest brothers. One wishes only to save, the other wants only to fight. As neither will stand down, they go their separate ways, with Zus joining the Russian resistance and getting what seems to be his fill of killing, until he begins to realise that his new protectors may just be as dangerous to his people as the Nazis themselves. The interplay between Craig and Schreiber is electric and it is a joy to watch them here on screen together, so convincing that the viewer forgets that these people are not actually brothers.
You don't need to watch too closely to see the Moses simile in this and I was a little disappointed by its inclusion, particularly spoken aloud by Asael, which prompted me to think that the director did not rate his audience as highly as his cast, which would be a shame if it were true. Nevertheless, this does have something for everyone old enough to watch it. A compelling true story, several love interests for the brothers, lots of evil Nazis (which are good for general booing purposes) and even the odd bomb and tank for those of a destructive persuasion.
Tuvia Bielski is quoted as saying "every day of freedom is like an act of faith." A prophetic comment for a man who seems like he should really have been at peace, given the choice. These were the words that built a town in the middle of a forest. Not once, or twice, but three times. Over 1200 Jews were saved by the actions of the Bielski brothers. This was something I was completely unaware of. So yes, it does bring something. And yes, it is good too.
-Steve Leadbetter
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Director:
Edward Zwick
Writer: Clayton Frohman & Edward Zwick
Starring: Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, Jamie Bell
Distributor: Paramount Vantage
Runtime: 137
min
Rating: R
Release Date: December 31 , 2008
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