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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

Overview

User Rating:
7.3/10   26,929 votes
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Up 14% 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:
(390 articles)
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User Reviews:
We may be hunted like animals, but we will not become animals more (179 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: The hut built of logs is perfectly square and true, a feat impossible in the woods with only axes. Such work requires levels and precise measuring tools. more
Quotes:
Viktor Panchenko: You are related to Bielski?
Zus Bielski: I am Bielski.
more
Movie Connections:
References Idi i smotri (1985) more
Soundtrack:
Ikh Bin A Mame more

FAQ

A Note Regarding Spoilers
What is the word that Zus and others use to disparage the non-combatants?
Is "Defiance" based on a book?
more
84 out of 133 people found the following review useful.
We may be hunted like animals, but we will not become animals, 7 January 2009
8/10
Author: The_CareBearJew from every where

The movie was good. Not Zwick's best effort though and as for the acting it was Liev Schreiber that delivered the most. Every time I see Craig I see James Bond and that other guy, Jamie Bell, was barely even on screen. I'm guessing most of his scenes were cut out of the film to pave the way for more Craig screen time. The action set pieces were mostly impressive but the problem is, its over before you know it. But I can honestly say, it was impressive nonetheless. Its not brainless by any means, the movie has a profound and compelling story. One can only wonder how these filmmakers come up with more WWII movie ideas every year.

From a visual point of view, the movie looks absolutely beautiful. From the authentic weaponry and uniforms to the rich and colorful Lithuanian locations, Defiance may fall flat during some points throughout the film; as with every other black and white war movies that's been released, the Germans are depicted as war machines of death without remorse, if you can overlook these flaws I think it is an enjoyable film and in its entirety, Defiance is an overwhelming movie that doesn't glamorize the war but shows the intense reality behind it all. A must see for all war movie fans out there.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Defiance (2008)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
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
Malbushim nottesigana
Parts well done, parts cliched. Kozfather
Defiance aka Lord of the rings? arildoaim
yes, the Soviets were at least as bad as the Nazi marius_em
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