Defiance (2008)

Defiance (2008) is an amazing film. It tells the story of the Bielski brothers who formed a partisan band in Belarus after the rest of their family was massacred by the Nazi invaders. They were the sons of a miller and had grown up on a farm. They had often played in the deep woods nearby. Thus they had the skills to survive in the bush. Being unable to turn away the Jewish refugees who asked for their help they retained their humanity in the face of overwhelming odds. Barely able to take care of themselves they treated all Jews as their brothers. This contrasts with the band of Soviet partisans with whom they make contact. The Soviets would not share their medicine with the Jews saying that it was only for fighters.

It is ironic that many of the refugees are intellectuals and professionals who in prewar times had looked down on the Bielskis as coarse, uneducated boors but are now dependent on them for their survival. In one scene the Jews are fleeing the Nazi hordes when they come to a marsh. This takes place on Passover as the Nazis chose religious celebrations as prime times to murder Jews. One of the Bielskis says that they must cross not by a miracle but by their own might. I wonder if the story of the parting of the Red Sea began with such an event.

The descendants of the people saved by the Bielski brothers now number in the tens of thousands. Yet the brothers never demanded any credit for their heroism.

No way that you can spin this as a victim story Mr. Black!