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movie review - Defiance

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

This is a movie about brothers who led a life of crime in the years prior to World War II, only to have leadership thrust upon them when the war comes and their Jewish community is forced to live in the woods. There were several scenes in this movie that put me off, in a similar way to Tarantino's recent work. The relentless misogyny and the casual celebration of the use of violence is not enough. I also seriously had to wonder if things worked the way they were depicted in this film - which matters when you're presenting a period piece "based on a true story". For instance the success that this non-combatant force had in fighting the German army seems a bit implausible. And why throw in the stuff about "forest wives"? How is that relevant to story? Or was that the real story? It didn't add up for me.

Not recommended.