And good luck to the brave Palestinian people. Peace.

By euclidcreek on Jan 15, 2009 at 7:42 pm

In his fine review of "Defiance," Jay Wertz consistently misspells the word "guerrilla." There's also a sentence (on page 3 of his review) that reads "… both men and women are trained to shoot and everyone gets the same ratios." I'm fairly certain that last word is supposed to be "rations."
Curt Scott
Santa Clarita, California
661-251-0806

By Curt Scott on Jan 23, 2009 at 5:59 pm

What does "based upon" mean? Is it an historic renditon or is it more of the Holocaust Industry's attempt to make us cheer Israel's current "shooting fish [Palestinians] in a barrel [Gaza]"? THIS WOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE IF THE FILM HAD COME OUT EARLIER OR LATER– BAD TIMING.

I can't helpt thinking that the heroism of two– exagerated or properly portrayed– should have waited its film portayal so that people do not associate what the Nazis did in the Warsaw Ghetto with what Israel is doing in Gaza. Historical analogy is a two edged sword and often unfair to both sides of the analogy; especially when dramaticized as a movie, it gets confused with hasbara. A Holywoodian version of history can be like a fire cracker held in hand too long, creating more controversy than making points. But as one who was raised by my parents' friends– Jewish survivors of a double Holocaust, Hitler's and Stalin's– all through my own refuge Westward, I think more to the point is how the incredible faith in God and goodness survived in my Jewish mentors. To their deaths in Israel, all protested Israel's lebensraum policies when they crush innocent Palestinians with an "Iron Wall" to make room for non-existent immigrants. They could not accept doing onto others as was done onto them– but Holywood will never make a film about their exemplary lives of hope. I also fear that many will not see this film because they feel propaganda expoitation of the Holocaust is a sacrilege. Zionism can be outrageously racist, as when the rabbi at the funeral of Dr. Goldstein (who shot up the Jerusalem Mosque) said that one Jewish fingernail is worth a thousand Arab lives. Nevertheless, that to this day Jews continue to be pillars of Western culture is beyond dispute. I hope we can keep the Holocaust and Zionism as separate issues, especially given how little Zionists cared for the plight of the Jews fleeing the Holocaust (Tom Segev THE SEVENTH MILLION).

AND STILL, NOT AS HASBARA, BUT AS A REMINDER OF HOW CRUEL MAN CAN BE TO MAN, I CELEBRATE THIS FILM FOR REMINDING US HOW MUCH WE RETARD OUR PLANET'S SURVIVAL BLOWING IT UP, POLUTING IT AND CUTTING EACHOTHER'S THROATS. THERE IS A POINT WHERE THIS MOVIE CELEBRATES HUMANITY AND HOPE; AND FOR THAT I SALUTE IT.

By DE Tedooru on Jan 23, 2009 at 8:02 pm

A great great movie, about some brave , brave people. All good luck to the Jewish.

By Dennis on Jan 24, 2009 at 1:00 am

I guess this is a lick-it-and-love-it propaganda site, not one for looks at history varying in viewpoint. So this movie must be cheered or you must be an anti-Semite….Wow!

By DE Teodoru on Jan 24, 2009 at 5:28 pm

The Defiance Movie-I am Zus’s son, served in the USMC and later the IDF (73 War), my brother IDF Paratrooper (1st Leb. War), my first born IDF Paratroopers (reserve); his brother is presently in the IDF Paratroopers.
The Untold Bielski Story.
Growing up they had to defend themselves and their business from the locals. They were always a family team, and also had many non Jewish friends. They developed a reputation before the War for many kilometers that "you shouldn't mess with the Bielskis because you are sure to lose" a quote by Aron Bell Bielski. They were never petty criminals as referred to in the movie, although the police knew of them and their penchant for provoked violence. As the environment grew more hostile against Jews and the Bielskis in particular, the ante was raised and so was their response to it, ruthlessness and compassion. The Defiance movie did not show enemies’ heads being axed (see The History Channel, Jerusalem in the Woods). The Bielski Enemas in which enemies’ behinds were cleaned by grenades as each watched his fellow get blown up knowing that he will be next (The Bielski Partisans a documentary by Kumar 1996). Many unmentionable acts were done without remorse by Zus and others. In context envision what would you do if they killed your mother and father, your brothers, your wife and daughter? Between me and you if the Bielskis’ Defiance movie has any positive influence on Israeli gov’t a more assertive and permanent solution would already be in place both politically and militarily. Defiance was not intended to directly comment on Israeli policies it intended to show that all Jews are capable and obligated to live and be defiant to anyone who threatens our existence, anytime.

By bellskee on Feb 12, 2009 at 2:50 pm

As entertainment, I found "Defiance" to be an excellent film. Arguments as whether it has a message for the Middle East conflict of today I will leave to other posters. It is my belief that if we found ourselves in the same situation as the Bielski brothers and the other Jews, many of us would go into survival mode and do whatever is necessary. The invading Germans were not exactly shrinking violets when it came to committing atrocities. Just one more thing: the correct title of Zwick's previous film is "Blood Diamond"-singular, not plural.

By Gregory Garduno on Dec 28, 2009 at 7:37 pm