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Defiance – Edward Zwick InterviewBy Jay Wertz | Military History | 6 comments | Print This Post | Email This Post HN: Based on a true story, the Bielski brothers developed a unique community that really began by accident and developed in stages. What aspects of this fascinating piece of history were most important to convey in the film? Subscribe Today
EZ: Well, two things. One is that they were ordinary men. They were unsophisticated, and in no way prepared to lead—that they were reluctant heroes even. And the other is that what was remarkable about the defiance was not just that they took revenge, but rather that they preserved the life of a community and that they insisted that there be marriage, and family and school and celebration even in the midst of this horrible time. That was their triumph. HN: The two elder brothers, Tuvia and Zus, are central to the film. How do their strengths, their faults and differences move the story along in the movie?
HN: They took a varied group of refugees and they turned them into citizen soldiers in a relatively short period of time. How did you approach this aspect in the film? EZ: These brothers were no strangers to violence, and they were comfortable in the woods. They became military leaders. They then made alliance with Russian partisans who were also extremely capable as military men. And the training was for both men and women, and that was unusual in its day and necessary. Women were taught to use weapons, to train, to ride horses. There was no question but that was the only way they were going to survive. HN: As co-writer and director, your interpretation in the story introduced character conflicts and moral dilemmas. Which of these make the film a really effective drama and give the audience the best understanding of the situation these people faced? EZ: I think that the issues of leadership for Tuvia are very central to the story. The idea that he, in order to enact discipline, is forced to do things that might be questionable, having to do with, at one point, allowing the group to kill a prisoner—at another point killing one of his own men. These are very controversial and very questionable decisions and yet necessary. And I think he pays a significant emotional price to have done them. HN: In the film the forest, which is very beautifully photographed, is central. Could you say it almost becomes a character in the story? EZ: I think so, very much. The cities were traps. No one could hide in the cities. But the forest is what sheltered them. The forest was their salvation. Traditionally, in literature and in history, the forest has been always the place where people go for refuge, to be changed; the lover, the outlaw, the bad man, the fool. The forest is that place of transformation. All the people who are there, they still to this day, talk about the beauty of the forest. The beauty of the natural world juxtaposed with the horror of the surrounding elements was very important to me to try to dramatize. HN: In one sequence you interplay an ambush of a Nazi convoy by Zus and the Russian partisans with a wedding in the Bielski community in the forest. What’s the significance of this juxtaposition? Pages: 1 2 3Help HistoryNet by bookmarking to
            Tags: Movies, World War II
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6 Comments to “Defiance – Edward Zwick Interview”
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