Defiance

"Freedom begins with an act of defiance"

Jan 16 2009 R 2h 17m
Action, Drama, History

Based on a true story, during World War II, four Jewish brothers escape their Nazi-occupied homeland of West Belarus in Poland and join the Soviet partisans to combat the Nazis. The brothers begin the rescue of roughly 1,200 Jews still trapped in the ghettos of Poland.

Plot

On the run and hiding in the deep forests of the then German-occupied Poland and Belorussia (World War II), the four Bielski brothers find the impossible task of foraging for food and weapons for their survival. They live, not only with the fear of discovery, contending with neighboring Soviet partisans and knowing whom to trust but also take the responsibility of looking after a large mass of fleeing Polish Jews from the German war machine. Women, men, children, the elderly and the young alike are all hiding in makeshift homes in the dark, cold and unforgiving forests in the darkest times of German-occupied Eastern Europe.

Written by

Clayton Frohman, Edward Zwick, Nechama Tec

Directed by

Edward Zwick

Production Countries

United States of America

Production Companies

Pistachio Pictures, Defiance Productions, Bedford Falls Company, The, Grosvenor Park Productions, Paramount Vantage

Languages

English, Deutsch

Awards

Nominated for 1 Oscar. 2 wins & 5 nominations total

Scores
# of Votes
160,716
Average Rating
7.1 out of 10
Metascore
58
Popularity
NA