Defiance

[Art]

I got around to watching this one tonight.

The movie is about a group of Jewish partisans led by the Bielski brothers in Belarus in World War II. I had actually read a little about them, The Bielski Partisans, before watching the movie.

I enjoyed it but I know it will seem a little plodding to some because there is a good bit of "character development" in it. I look on that as a good thing but some might have a taste for a bit more action.

I think it painted a pretty good picture of partisan/guerilla warfare in World War II. This type of warfare is an ugly business even by the standards of war. The no quarter asked or given combat, the assasination of collaborators, the summary execution, sometimes quite brutally, of prisoners, and the setteling of leadership disputes by simply killing the other fellow are all depicted graphically and unflinchingly.

It isn't mentioned in the movie but after the war the leadership of the Bielski partisans came under scrutiny because they were not only Jews but Polish Jews, not a good thing if you were answerable to "Uncle Joe" Stalin. One of the Bielski brothers eventually joined the Red Army and was killed at the battle of Konigsberg in 1945. The rest of the leaders wisely left the country after the war before officially being declared enemies of the state and settled in the U.S.

Last but not least for the purposes of this group, a lot of detail was paid to period costumes, weapons and equipment. I'm sure I could find some flaws if I watched it a couple of more times but all in all some nice attention to historical detail.

[Griff Murphey]

Perfectly veneered Hollywood-white teeth and way-too-clean clothes. And once 007, always 007....

[Art]

Perfectly veneered Hollywood-white teeth and way-too-clean clothes. And once 007, always 007....

I have to check the clothes part. I was too busy looking at the grimy faces. You are correct, hard to ever escape being 007

The worst about too clean clothes and too good teeth were the biblical epics and medieval movies of the 50s and 60s. Almost made me want to live 1,000 years ago.......almost.

[Guamsst]

Art, as they said in "Quest For The Holy Grail"

"Must be a King"
"How do you know that"
"He hasn't got $#@% all over him"