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IMDb > Defiance (2008)
Defiance
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Defiance (2008) -- This is the theatrical trailer for Defiance, directed by Edward Zwick
Defiance (2008) -- Clip: First 5 minutes of the film
Defiance (2008) -- Interview: Liev Schreiber "On preparing for his role as Zus Bielski"
Defiance (2008) -- This is the teaser trailer for Defiance, directed by Edward Zwick.
Defiance (2008) -- Trailer for this WWII era drama starring Daniel Craig

IMDb Holiday Movie Guide

Overview

User Rating:
7.3/10   26,592 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 21% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Clayton Frohman (screenplay) and
Edward Zwick (screenplay) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Defiance on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
16 January 2009 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Freedom begins with an act of defiance!
Plot:
Jewish brothers in Nazi-occupied Eastern Europe escape into the Belarussian forests, where they join Russian resistance fighters and endeavor to build a village in order to protect themselves and about 1,000 Jewish non-combatants. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 2 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(387 articles)
The Notable Films of 2010: Part Six
 (From Dark Horizons. 27 December 2009, 10:09 AM, PST)

Tea Party Promo from Alice in Wonderland
 (From ShockYa. 25 December 2009, 11:00 PM, PST)

User Reviews:
Nothing Is Impossible to Survive more (177 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Daniel Craig ... Tuvia Bielski

Liev Schreiber ... Zus Bielski

Jamie Bell ... Asael Bielski

Alexa Davalos ... Lilka Ticktin

Allan Corduner ... Shamon Haretz

Mark Feuerstein ... Isaac Malbin

Tomas Arana ... Ben Zion Gulkowitz
Jodhi May ... Tamara Skidelsky
Kate Fahy ... Riva Reich
Iddo Goldberg ... Yitzchak Shulman

Iben Hjejle ... Bella
Martin Hancock ... Peretz Shorshaty

Ravil Isyanov ... Viktor Panchenko

Jacek Koman ... Konstanty 'Koscik' Kozlowski

George MacKay ... Aron Bielski
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for violence and language.
Runtime:
137 min
Country:
Color:
Black and White (archive footage) | Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The makers considered shooting in Poland and Romania before settling upon Lithuania. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: Half the movie takes place in the winter, oftentimes snowing, yet not in one scene do the actors show their breath, nor do the hot soups show any steam. more
Quotes:
Shamon Haretz: Yes. You annoy me, therefore I exist. more
Movie Connections:
Featured in The 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards (2009) (TV) more
Soundtrack:
Kupalinka more

FAQ

Is "Defiance" based on a book?
A Note Regarding Spoilers
When Russians or Germans speak, there are subtitles, but the Bielskis speak English to each other, what language are they supposed to be speaking?
more
6 out of 7 people found the following review useful.
Nothing Is Impossible to Survive, 25 December 2009
9/10
Author: Claudio Carvalho from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

In 1941, in Belorussia, the Jewish Bielski brothers succeed in escaping from the massacre of the German in their village where their parents were killed. They hide in the woods and sooner other runaway Jews join them. Tuvia Bielski (Daniel Craig), the eldest brother, assumes the leadership of the survivors and plans a camp with tasks for everyone in the community; however, his brother Zus Bielski (Liev Schreiber) wants to fight against the Germans and does not agree with Tuvia's directions. Zus decides to join the Russian resistance that believes that Jews do not fight. While Tuvia welcomes any survivor in his camp with his two younger brothers and fight for food and ammunition, Zus finds anti- Semitism among the Russian partisans.

"Defiance" is an excellent movie based on a true story that proves that nothing is impossible to survive. Of course, the plot is romanticized, but the merit of these Bielski brothers is undeniable. The direction of Edward Zwick (from "Blood Diamond") is outstanding, with the journey of a group of survivors that uses human characters in drama, romance and action in realistic scenes (the battle sequences are amazing). The landscapes are extremely beautiful, especially in the winter with the frozen forest. The cast is magnificent, and is difficult to highlight an individual performance. The beauty of the unknown Alexa Davalos is impressive. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "Um Ato de Liberdade" ("An Act of Liberty")

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Defiance (2008)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Defiance aka Lord of the rings? arildoaim
The Red army saved us all and only get *beep* for it in movies. pheters
So what was the true events in this movie? dist_roy
yes, the Soviets were at least as bad as the Nazi marius_em
Quite possibly, the worst WWII-themed movie EVER!!! obelix99
historically inacurate movie matedom
more

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