As German forces advanced across Eastern Europe in 1941, the Bielski brothers—Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, and Jamie Bell—fled into the forests bordering Poland and Belorussia (Belarus). Increasingly desperate Jewish people sought safety with them, uniting to resist the German occupation. The film "Defiance" explores how they managed to endure for four years living in those woods. Released between 2008 and 2009, this drama/war movie has a lot going for it: It’s based on true events, features talented actors, was shot in authentic locations (in Lithuania, close to the actual places where it happened), boasts effective cinematography, and possesses a high level of production value. I enjoy films about survival, and "Defiance" delivers that, though it doesn't reach the heights of something like “The Last of the Mohicans” (1992). The filmmakers incorporate various action sequences to keep viewers engaged—gun battles, an airstrike, even a tank—all fairly standard Hollywood additions. It would have been better if they’d simply concentrated on the characters and their struggle for survival. I wish it had explored in greater depth what happens when people are reduced to meeting only their basic needs. A study of individuals stripped of civilization, confronting their primal instincts, like you see in "Sands of the Kalahari" (1965), would have been compelling. The film could also have delved into the intangible but powerful connection of love that binds people together and sustains them even in terrible circumstances; there are hints of this, but I wanted more—something along the lines of what’s presented in "The Flight of the Phoenix" (1965). One particularly thought-provoking scene shows a man attempting to join the growing community living in the woods. He's asked about his skills so they can determine how he might contribute. After some consideration, he says he's “an intellectual.” Obviously, an intellectual isn’t all that useful in a place like that. The area was primarily agricultural, meaning most people had practical skills as farmers, craftspeople, or laborers. What purpose would an "intellectual" serve? How many of us consider ourselves intellectuals and would be essentially useless in such a situation? We'd quickly pick up new abilities, I suppose. It makes you think: How long will our current society last before we’re all forced to live a primitive existence? If that ever happens, I hope you're more than just "an intellectual." "Defiance" is worth watching if the idea of survival in the wilderness appeals to you. It’s better than “Tears of the Sun” (2003), but in my opinion it isn’t quite as good as "Hornet's Nest" (1970) or "Sands of the Kalahari," though it comes fairly close. The film has a running time of 2 hours and 17 minutes. GRADE: B/B-

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