Defiance (2008)

Director:

Edward Zwick

Writers (WGA):

Clayton Frohman (screenplay) and
Edward Zwick (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

16 January 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Thriller | War

Tagline:

Freedom begins with an act of defiance!

Plot:

Jewish brothers in Nazi-occupied Eastern Europe escape into the Belarussian forests, where they join Russian resistance fighters and endeavor to build a village in order to protect themselves and about 1,000 Jewish non-combatants.

Plot Keywords:

Forest | Brothers | Jewish | Partisan | Hiding

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Daniel Craig	...	Tuvia Bielski
Liev Schreiber	...	Zus Bielski
Jamie Bell	...	Asael Bielski
Alexa Davalos	...	Lilka Ticktin
Allan Corduner	...	Shamon Haretz
Mark Feuerstein	...	Isaac Malbin
Tomas Arana	...	Ben Zion Gulkowitz
Jodhi May	...	Tamara Skidelsky
Kate Fahy	...	Riva Reich
Iddo Goldberg	...	Yitzchak Shulman
Iben Hjejle	...	Bella
Martin Hancock	...	Peretz Shorshaty
Ravil Isyanov	...	Viktor Panchenko
Jacek Koman	...	Konstanty 'Koscik' Kozlowski
George MacKay	...	Aron Bielski
Jonjo O'Neill	...	Lazar
Sam Spruell	...	Arkady Lubczanski
Mia Wasikowska	...	Chaya Dziencielsky
Mark Margolis	...	Jewish Elder
Markus von Lingen	...	German SS Scout
Rolandas Boravskis	...	Gramov
Algirdas Dainavicius	...	Motl Lubczanski
Aurelija Prashuntaite	...	Rachel
Vidas Petkevicius	...	Avram Rubinski
Ina Frismanaite	...	Avram's Daughter
Ana Goldberg	...	Lila
Rimante Valiukaite	...	Miriam
Leonardas Pobedonoscevas	...	Jacov
Kristina Bertasiute	...	Dark Haired Beauty
Kristina Skokova	...	Red Haired Woman
Remigijus Bilinskas	...	Pinchas Zuckerman
Rimgaudas Karvelis	...	Oppenheim
Leonas Ciunis	...	Accountant
Aleksandr Zila	...	Chaya's Father
Iveta Nadzeikiene	...	Chaya's Mother
Clayton Frohman	...	Isadore Skidelsky
Marc Levy	...	Yechael Efrati
Zoe Rosenblum	...	Sarah Oppenheim
Sakalas Uzdavinys	...	Lova Volkin
Saulius Janaviciu	...	Israel Kotler
Leonid Kotik	...	Krensky (as Leonidas Kotikas)
Dalia Micheleviciute	...	Rosa
Tadas Kavaliauskas	...	Levine
Matas Cancingeris	...	Little Boy
Diana Aneviciute	...	Koscik's Wife (as Diana Aneviciute-Valiusaitiene)
Sigitas Rackys	...	Belarussian Police Captain
Vaidas Kublinskas	...	Police Captain's Son #1 (as Vaidas Kublinkas)
Valentin Novopolskij	...	Police Captain's Son #2
Ervinas Martynas Peteraitis	...	Kissely the Milkman
Dmitrij Denisiuk	...	Policeman
Antanas Surna	...	Orthodox Rabbi
Dalius Mertinas	...	Belarussian Police Officer #1
Vaidotas Martinaitis	...	Belarussian Police Officer #2
Aldona Bendoriute	...	Jewish Mother Separated From Child #1
Darius Gumauskas	...	Jewish Father Being Beaten #1
Irmantas Bacelis	...	Jewish Father Being Beaten #2
Edita Uzaite	...	Jewish Mother Separated From Child #2
Jordan Bielsky	...	Villager Getting Shot
Gediminas Girdvainis	...	Screaming Man
Stanislav Adamickij	...	German Captain
Klemens Becker	...	SS Captain
Jonas Tamulevigius	...	German Courier
Jaroslav Psenicka	...	German Officer in Car
Jolanta Dapkunaite	...	Woman in Car
Miroslav Lhotka	...	German Officer
Giacomo Strasser	...	German Private
Mac Steinmeier	...	German Sergeant
Dmitri Slepovitch	...	Musician
Arkadij Gotesman	...	Musician
Borisas Kirzeneris	...	Musician
Raimondas Sviackevicius	...	Musician
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Janina Matiekonyte	...	Well-Dressed Woman (uncredited)

Directed by
Edward Zwick

Writing credits (WGA)
Clayton Frohman		(screenplay) and
Edward Zwick		(screenplay)
Nechama Tec		(book "Defiance: the Bielski Partisans")

Produced by
Pieter Jan Brugge	....	producer
Clayton Frohman	....	co-producer
Marshall Herskovitz	....	executive producer
Alisa Katz	....	associate producer (as Alisa S. Katz)
Troy Putney	....	associate producer
Roland Tec	....	co-producer
Gary Tuck	....	line producer: Lithuania
Edward Zwick	....	producer
Alex Boden	....	producer: pick-ups (uncredited)
Andrew Litvin	....	line producer: pick-ups (uncredited)

Original Music by
James Newton Howard

Cinematography by
Eduardo Serra		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Steven Rosenblum

Casting by
Gail Stevens
Victoria Thomas

Production Design by
Dan Weil

Art Direction by
Yann Biquand
Daran Fulham		(supervising art director)

Set Decoration by
Véronique Melery		(as Veronique Melery)

Costume Design by
Jenny Beavan

Makeup Department
Stephen Bettles	....	prosthetic makeup artist (as Stevie Bettles)
Zaneta Jasiuniene	....	local makeup artist
Lizzie Lawson	....	key hair stylist (as Lizzi Lawson Zeiss)
Kristie Matthiae	....	hair stylist
Kristie Matthiae	....	makeup artist
Egle Mikalauskaite	....	local crowd hair supervisor
Egle Mikalauskaite	....	local crowd makeup supervisor
Trefor Proud	....	hair designer
Trefor Proud	....	makeup designer
Vida Vitkute	....	local makeup artist
Felicity Wright	....	makeup artist
J.D. Bowers	....	old age prosthetics sculptor: W.M. Creations Inc. (uncredited)
J.D. Bowers	....	prosthetics lab technician: W.M. Creations Inc. (uncredited)
Ryan McDowell	....	silicone prosthetics technician (uncredited)

Production Management
Pieter Jan Brugge	....	unit production manager
Darius Jarasunas	....	unit manager: second unit
Lina Miseikyte	....	local production manager (as Lineta Zukauskiene)
Elena Zokas	....	production manager
Elena Zokas	....	supervising production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William Booker	....	first assistant director: second unit
Andrius Brazas	....	local second assistant director
Ben Dixon	....	second assistant director: second unit
Mikey Eberle	....	third assistant director (as Michael Eberle)
Agne Januskyte	....	assistant director (as Agne Braziene)
Mark Layton	....	second assistant director
Dan Lerner	....	second unit director
Carolyn Milner	....	second second assistant director
Viktorija Ogureckaja	....	local third assistant director
Darin Rivetti	....	first assistant director
Julius Gaizauskas	....	set trainee assistant director (uncredited)
Alex Kaye-Besley	....	first assistant director: pickups (uncredited)

Art Department
Jacques Aucomte	....	production buyer
Yann Biquand	....	draftsman
William Boyes	....	stand-by props
Jana Chovancova	....	art department coordinator (as Jana Evans)
Jérome Clavier	....	finisher (as Jerome Clavier)
Gregoire Daure	....	property master
Raimondas Dicius	....	prop maker
Gilles Geraud	....	assistant set decorator
Gediminas Gerulis	....	chargehand set dresser
Shira Hockman	....	junior art director
Arturas Kmitas	....	assistant stand-by props
Konstantinas Laurynas	....	dressing props
Alan Munro	....	visual consultant
Marguerite Ots	....	hod painter
Saule Peciulyte	....	graphic designer
Lionel Pouchard	....	illustrator
Elaine Seidel	....	charge scenic
Ceslovas Snezko	....	swing gang: second unit (as Ceslav Snezko)
Sarune Tautvaisaite	....	assistant stand-by props
James Lee Thorne	....	stand-by greens (as James Thorne 'Pip')
Asta Vildziunaite	....	assistant stand-by props
Anastasija Zilionyte	....	junior assistant art director

Sound Department
Christopher Assells	....	sound editor (as Chris Assells)
Tim Atkins	....	adr recordist
Adrian Baumeister	....	adr mixer (as Adrianne Baumeister)
Anna Behlmer	....	sound re-recording mixer
Lon Bender	....	sound designer
Lon Bender	....	sound supervisor
Marius Blazys	....	second boom operator
James Bolt	....	additional sound re-recording mixer
John Cannon	....	assistant sound editor
Carl Fischer	....	boom operator
Nerses Gezalyan	....	foley mixer
Peter Gleaves	....	adr mixer
Laura R. Harris	....	adr editor (as Laura Harris Atkinson)
Laura R. Harris	....	dialogue editor (as Laura Harris Atkinson)
Michael Hertlein	....	adr editor (as Michael Hertline)
Michael Hertlein	....	dialogue editor (as Michael Hertline)
Petur Hliddal	....	production sound mixer
Randy Kelley	....	foley editor
Daniel R. Kerr	....	additional audio (as Dan Kerr)
Tony Lamberti	....	additional sound re-recording mixer
Diane Marshall	....	foley artist
James Moriana	....	foley artist (as Jimmy Moriana)
Andy Nelson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Nancy Nugent	....	adr editor
Nancy Nugent	....	dialogue editor
Mark Ormandy	....	additional audio
Andrius Paulavicius	....	sound recordist: epk
Andrius Paulavicius	....	sound recordist: second unit
Elvinas Sereikis	....	second boom operator
Frederick H. Stahly	....	adr editor (as Fred Stahly)
Frederick H. Stahly	....	dialogue editor (as Fred Stahly)
David Stanke	....	assistant sound editor
Peter Staubli	....	sound editor
Greg Steele	....	adr mixer
Jon Title	....	sound editor
Brett Voss	....	foley mixer
Gayle Wesley	....	first assistant sound editor
Jeffrey Wilhoit	....	foley artist (as Jeff Wilhoit)
Kerry Dean Williams	....	adr supervisor
Andy Wright	....	adr mixer
Greg Zimmerman	....	adr recordist
Blake R. Cornett	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
Craig Heath	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Bruce Armstrong	....	senior special effects technician
Gintas Ciupala	....	local special effects technician (as Gintautas Ciupala)
Neil Corbould	....	special effects supervisor
Virginijus Dubauskas	....	local special effects technician
Michael Durkan	....	senior special effects technician: second unit (as Mike Durkan)
Artiom Grigorian	....	local special effects technician
Peter Haran	....	senior special effects technician: second unit (as Peter Andrew Haran)
Stuart Heath	....	senior special effects technician
Jennifer Latour	....	prosthetics special effects
Eduardas Lisovskis	....	local special effects technician
Martin 'Marty' McLaughlin	....	snow special effects supervisor (as Martin McLaughlin)
Chris Motjuoadi	....	special effects technician (as Chris Kgotso Moyjouadi)
Ceri Nicholls	....	special effects technician: second unit (as Ceri John Nicholls)
Nigel Nixon	....	senior special effects technician
Shaun Rutter	....	senior special effects technician
Dimitrij Sinelscikov	....	local special effects technician
Peter Skehan	....	special effects technician (as Kevin Peter Skehan)
Gintaras Tamulevicius	....	local special effects technician
Anne Marie Walters	....	special effects floor supervisor: second unit
Steven Warner	....	special effects floor supervisor (as Steve Warner)
David Watkins	....	senior special effects technician
Alistair Williams	....	special effects technician
Karen Xuereb	....	special effects production assistant
Alan Young	....	special effects workshop supervisor
Valdemaras Zarinas	....	local special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Jessica Allen	....	paint & roto artist: Flash Film Works
Alfred Berger	....	compositor: Flash Film Works
Toma Bowen	....	paint & roto artist: Flash Film Works
Anthony Davis	....	paint & roto artist: Flash Film Works
Chris Dawson	....	cg animator: Flash Film Works
Tim Donahue	....	matte painter: Flash Film Works
Syd Dutton	....	visual effects: Illusion Arts, mass grave matte (as Sid Dutton)
Brian Fire	....	paint & roto artist: Flash Film Works
David Fogg	....	compositor: Flash Film Works
Collin Fowler	....	visual effects coordinator: Illusion Arts, mass grave matte
Andrea Goodson	....	visual effects coordinator: Flash Film Works
Marky Kang	....	paint & roto artist: Flash Film Works
Pavelas Kovaliovas	....	visual effects assistant: Lithuania, Flash Film Works
Lincoln Kupchak	....	visual effects editor: Flash Film Works
Peter Kuran	....	visual effects
Peter Kuran	....	visual effects: VCE, swamp matte
Jonathan Marquiss	....	paint & roto artist: Flash Film Works
John P. Mesa	....	visual effects co-supervisor: Flash Film Works
William Mesa	....	visual effects supervisor
Don Myers	....	cg animator: Flash Film Works (as Don J. Myers)
Marilyn Nave	....	visual effects administrator: VCE, swamp matte
Jeremy Nelson	....	compositor: Flash Film Works (as Jeremy A. Nelson)
Dan Novy	....	visual effects technical supervisor: Flash Film Works
Leon Nowlin	....	paint & roto artist: Flash Film Works
Terry Shigemitsu	....	3D animator: VCE, swamp matte
Ken Stranahan	....	compositor: Flash Film Works
Catherine Sudolcan	....	visual effects producer: Illusion Arts, mass grave matte
Alicia Suggs	....	paint/roto supervisor: Flash Film Works
Bill Taylor	....	visual effects: Illusion Arts, mass grave matte
Jon Terada	....	digital supervisor: VCE, swamp matte
Andrew Tucker	....	3D artist: Illusion Artys, mass grave matte
Emily Wallin	....	visual effects producer: Flash Film Works
Jacqueline Zietlow	....	visual effects administrator: VCE, swamp matte
Cloe Zimmerman	....	paint & roto artist: Flash Film Works
George Antonopoulos	....	visual effects assistant: Flash Film Works (uncredited)
Patrick Clancey	....	digital opticals (uncredited)
Miles DeLong	....	visual effects assistant: Flash Film Works (uncredited)
Mark Freund	....	visual effects supervisor: Pacific Title (uncredited)
Anthony Greco	....	visual effects assistant: Flash Film Works (uncredited)
Thomas Mathai	....	data manager (uncredited)
Dan Smith	....	visual effects coordinator: pre-production, Flash Film Works (uncredited)

Stunts
Andy Bradshaw	....	stunt performer
Zuzana Drdacka	....	stunt performer
Tomas Ereminas	....	local stunt coordinator
Steve Griffin	....	stunt coordinator
Sergej Ivanov	....	stunt performer
Jindrich Klaus	....	stunt performer
Leonid Kotik	....	stunt performer
David Listvan	....	stunt performer
Giedrius Nagys	....	stunt performer
Slava Samuchov	....	stunt performer
Leo Stransky	....	assistant stunt coordinator (as Leos Stransky)
Karen Xuereb	....	stunt production assistant
Stanislav Adamickij	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tomas Ereminas	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Saulius Janaviciu	....	stunts (uncredited)
Leonid Kotik	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Miroslav Lhotka	....	stunts (uncredited)
Slava Samuchov	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Jonas Tamulevigius	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Michel Atanassian	....	gaffer
Karen Ballard	....	still photographer
Povilas Baltinas	....	central clapper loader
Klemens Becker	....	camera operator
Egidijus Braziunas	....	local gaffer
Audrius Budrys	....	camera trainee
James Burgess	....	additional second assistant camera
Robert Dibble	....	first assistant camera
Linas Dikcius	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Charlie England	....	additional first assistant camera
Ingo Gardner	....	balloon light technician
Jaroslav Gavrin	....	second assistant camera: second unit (as Jaroslav Garvin)
Vytaitas Gudlevicius	....	key grip: second unit (as Vytas Gudlevicius)
Lech Gunovic	....	local key grip
Leonid Gunovic	....	electrician: second unit
Leonid Gunovic	....	generator operator: second unit
Chris Harker	....	first company grip (as Christopher Harker)
Dylan Jones	....	video assist operator
Antanas Jucys	....	clapper loader: second unit
Rimas Jurgelevicius	....	local best boy (as Rimantas Jurgelevicius)
Aivaras Kilkus	....	local dolly grip
Marik Korvin-Petrovskij	....	best boy grip: second unit (as Marek Korvin-Petrovskij)
Vidmantas Kralikauskas	....	best boy: second unit
Binish Kuruvilla	....	video assist operator
Vitalij Kutko	....	electrician
Gilbert Lecluyse	....	director of photography: second unit (as Berto)
Pierre Mazard	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Guy Micheletti	....	key grip
Giedrius Miniotas	....	second assistant camera
Marc Nove	....	best boy (as Marc Nové)
Vladimir Polamarciuk	....	second best boy grip
Mike Proudfoot	....	camera operator
Bo B. Randulff	....	additional camera operator
Jonathan 'Chunky' Richmond	....	first assistant camera
Viaceslav Rogaciov	....	electrician
Sam Sale	....	video assist operator
Tony Turner	....	dolly grip
Martin Usher	....	grip trainee
Gareth Viner	....	best boy grip
Audrius Zelenius	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Algirdas Zitkevicius	....	electrician: second unit (as Algis Zitkevicius)
Feliksas Abrukauskas	....	additional second assistant camera (uncredited)
Toby Birney	....	additional camera operator (uncredited)
Jeremy Braben	....	aerial director of photography (uncredited)
Thomas Gottschalk	....	additional first assistant camera (uncredited)
Rolandas Joneliukstis	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)
Rokas Rudzionis	....	grip (uncredited)
Julius Siciunas	....	video assist operator (uncredited)
Ole Thomas	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Hannu-Pekka Vitikainen	....	additional camera operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Kelly Valentine Hendry	....	casting associate: Gail Stevens
Yesi Ramirez	....	casting associate: Victoria Thomas
Dalia Survilaite	....	crowd casting
Vita Survilaite	....	crowd casting assistant
Arturas Zukauskas	....	local casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Barbara Brady	....	costume assistant
Alex Carey	....	textile artist (as Alexander Carey)
Zivile Ceskeviciute	....	costume cutter
Mark Ferguson	....	key costume supervisor
Helen Ingham	....	key set costumer
Jolanta Jankauskiene	....	local costume assistant
Tatjana Jasina	....	costume cutter
Sandra Juskaite	....	local costume assistant
Justina Lardauskaite	....	local costume assistant
Charlotte Law	....	assistant costume designer
Aldona Levandaviciené	....	local costume buyer (as Aldona Levandaviciene)
Dovile Markeviciute	....	local costume assistant
Stephen Miles	....	costume workroom supervisor
Dangeruta Noseliene	....	local costume assistant
David Otzen	....	key set costumer
Renata Petuchovaite	....	key set costumer
Lora E. Revitt	....	costume assistant (as Laura Revitt)
Danute Riautiene	....	tailor
Janina Sostak	....	tailor (as Janina Sastok)
Ruta Tamuleviciene	....	local costume assistant
Rasa Taujanskiene	....	local costume assistant
Laura Zaliauskaite	....	local costume assistant

Editorial Department
Grant Bennett	....	colorist: Arion Facilities
Lisa Clifford-Owen	....	assistant editor: location
Russell Coppleman	....	colorist: Arion Facilities
Beth Dewey	....	digital intermediate producer: EFILM (as Elizabeth Dewey)
Joe Finley	....	on-line color timer
Scott Jacobs	....	post-production assistant (as Scott A. Jacobs)
Natasha Leonnet	....	colorist: dioital intermediate
Supriya Naidu-James	....	assistant editor: location
Martha Pike	....	digital intermediate editorial
Matthew Schmidt	....	first assistant editor
Cynthia E. Thornton	....	assistant editor
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter (uncredited)
Jim Passon	....	color timer (uncredited)
Robert E. Phillips	....	digital intermediate assistant producer: EFILM (uncredited)

Music Department
Jeff Atmajian	....	orchestrator
Chris Bacon	....	synth score programmer (as Chris P. Bacon)
Joshua Bell	....	musician: violin solos
Chris Cozens	....	auricle control systems
Brad Dechter	....	orchestrator
Steve Durkee	....	temp music editor
Richard Grant	....	auricle control systems
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestra contractor
Dave Hage	....	music librarian (as Dave Hague)
Dave Holden	....	score synth programmer (as Dave Holden)
Nick Ingman	....	conductor
Joel Iwataki	....	music scoring mixer
Randy Kerber	....	orchestrator
Richard Lancaster	....	score recordist
Charlotte Matthews	....	orchestra contractor
Julia Newmann	....	score coordinator
David Olson	....	music editor
Simon Rhodes	....	score recordist
Dmitri Slepovitch	....	music consultant: Jewish music
Pamela J. Sollie	....	score coordinator (as Pamela Sollie)
Stuart Michael Thomas	....	synth score programmer
Matthew J. Ward	....	synth score programmer (as Matt Ward)
Jim Weidman	....	supervising music editor

Transportation Department
Viktor Augulevic	....	driver
Vladislav Bradovskij	....	driver: facilities (as Vladas Brodvoskis)
Jonas Cicenas	....	driver
Ravi Dube	....	transportation coordinator (as Ravi Dubé)
Martin Grange	....	picture car coordinator
Graham Pamment	....	driver: facilities (as Graham Pemment)
Valerijus Polkovnikovas	....	assistant transportation coordinator
Jürgen Thiel	....	tank handler (as Juergen Thiel)
Viktor Valkovic	....	driver (as Viktor Volkovic)
Jaroslav Zdaniukevic	....	driver

Other crew
Anatolij Afanasjev	....	local armorer
Laura Akstinaite	....	production assistant: base camp
Kevin Badgery	....	production accountant: BFS
Alisa Buckley	....	unit publicist
Paul Dray	....	processor: Deluxe London
Rus Ekkel	....	tutor (as Ruslan Ekkel)
Roma Gailiuviene	....	location manager
Julius Gaizauskas	....	set production assistant
Veronika Hladikova	....	assistant: Mr. Craig
Nick Jeffries	....	supervising armorer
Brian Jochum	....	title designer: Moving Target
Gary Jones	....	production controller
Justin R. Kane	....	production assistant: Bedford Falls (as Justin Kane)
Alexa-Sascha Lewin	....	assistant: Mr. Brugge
David Lindsay	....	security: Mr. Craig
Ingrid Litman	....	production coordinator
Vladas Lyndo	....	local unit manager
Clive Miles	....	supervising location manager
Miles Mogulescu	....	legal services
Alan Munro	....	title designer: Moving Target
Ruta Nemaniene	....	animal wrangler
Zoe Rosenblum	....	set production assistant
Marge Rowland	....	post-production accountant
Monika Sakalauskaite	....	production assistant: base camp
Jurate Samulionyte	....	set production assistant
Jessica Shell	....	production secretary
Gabija Siurblyté	....	set production assistant: second unit (as Gabija Siurbyte)
Kristina Soltonaite	....	set production assistant
Ana Stichini	....	assistant accountant
Neil Swain	....	dialogue coach
Jayne-Ann Tenggren	....	script supervisor
Annija Tetere	....	location manager
Allan van O.T. Andersen	....	script supervisor: second unit
Martin Vesely	....	caterer: Zet Catering
Rasa Vilkaityté	....	assistant production coordinator (as Rasa Vilkaityte)
Simon Waterson	....	trainer: Mr. Craig
James Weston	....	assistant armorer
Boris Wolfson	....	translator: Russian
Boris Wolfson	....	transliterator: Russian
Loreta Zajarskyte	....	local production coordinator
Frantisek Zunt	....	catering team leader: Zet Catering
Frantisek Zunt	....	site caterer: Zet Catering
Livia Burton	....	production coordinator: pick-ups (uncredited)
Amy Israel	....	production executive (uncredited)
Arturas Nemanis	....	horse master (uncredited)
Eddie Rubin	....	office production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Robert Bernacchi	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Paramount Vantage (presents)
• Grosvenor Park Productions (as Grosvenor Park)
• Bedford Falls Company, The (as Bedford Falls)
• Defiance Productions (copyright owner)
• Pistachio Pictures (uncredited)

Distributors

• Imagem Filmes (2009) (Brazil) (theatrical)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (2009) (France) (theatrical)
• Mirovision (2008) (South Korea) (theatrical)
• Momentum Pictures (2008) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Momentum Pictures (2008) (UK) (theatrical)
• Monolith Plus (2009) (Poland) (theatrical)
• Bontonfilm (2009) (Czech Republic) (all media) (subtitled)
• Constantin Film Verleih (2009) (Germany) (all media)
• Constantin-Filmverleih (2009) (Austria) (all media)
• David Distribucion (2009) (Mexico) (all media)
• Flashstar (2009) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Ledafilms (2009) (Mexico) (all media)
• Momentum Pictures (2009) (UK) (DVD)
• Momentum Pictures (2009) (UK) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Paramount Vantage (2008) (USA) (all media)
• RCV Film Distribution (2009) (Belgium) (all media)
• RCV Film Distribution (2009) (Luxembourg) (all media)
• RCV Film Distribution (2009) (Netherlands) (all media)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• SP Films (2009) (Argentina) (all media)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2009) (Denmark) (all media)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2009) (Finland) (all media)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2009) (Norway) (all media)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2009) (Iceland) (all media)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2009) (Sweden) (all media)
• Shaw Organisation (2009) (Singapore) (all media)
• Tatrafilm (2009) (Slovakia) (all media)
• Toho-Towa (2009) (Japan) (all media)
• Village Films (2009) (Greece) (all media)

Special Effects

• Flash Film Works (visual effects)
• Illusion Arts (mass grave matte)
• Pacific Title and Art Studio (digital opticals)
• VCE (swamp matte)

Other Companies

• Abbey Road Studios  score recording facility
• Arion Facilities  dailies telecine
• Baltic Film Services  production services: Lithuania
• Bernstein, Fox, Whitman, Goldman & Sloan  additional professional services
• Dakota Music Services  music preparation
• Dennis Davidson & Associates Public Releations (DDA)  international pr consultant (as DDA Public Relations)
• EFilm  digital intermediate
• Entertainment Clearances  rights and clearances
• Film Finance  completion bond services
• Grosvenor Park Productions  funding
• Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren & Richman  legal services
• Helicopter Film Services  aerial filming services provided by
• ID Public Relations  domestic pr consultant
• James Newton Howard Studios  score mixing facility
• Kona Cutting  negative pull and data management
• Loeb and Loeb  legal services (as Loeb & Loeb)
• Modern VideoFilm  on-line facility
• Moving Target  title design
• Packair Airfreight  international logistics
• Panavision UK  camera equipment provided by
• Reed Smith Richards Butler  legal services (as Reed, Smith, Richard, Butler)
• Sony BMG Music Entertainment  participation courtesy of: Joshua Bell
• Sony Classical  soundtrack
• Soundelux Design Music Group (DMG)  sound editing and design (as Soundelux)
• Tenon Group  additional professional services
• Zenith Trust Company  additional professional services
• Zet Catering  site catering

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and language.

Runtime:

137 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German | Russian

Color:

Black and White (archive footage) | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #44522) | Australia:M | UK:15 | Ireland:15A | Singapore:PG | South Korea:15 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Czech Republic:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Finland:K-15 | New Zealand:M | Norway:15 | Hong Kong:IIB | Sweden:15 | Germany:12 | Argentina:13 | Netherlands:16 | Mexico:B15 | Austria:14 | Denmark:15 | South Africa:16LV | France:U

Filming Locations:

Lithuania

Company:

Paramount Vantage

Trivia:

This film's opening prologue states: "1941. Germany occupies Belorussia [now called Belarus]. SS death squads and local police round up Jews. Within weeks 50,000 are murdered. 1,000,000 more await deportation and death."

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The muzzle brake on the German tank was actually from a modern Soviet-era tank such as a T-55 or later.

Quotes:

Shamon Haretz: Merciful God, we commit our friends - Ben Zion and Krensky - to You. We have no more prayers, no more tears; we have run out of blood. Choose another people. We have paid for each of Your commandments; we have covered every stone and field with ashes. Sanctify another land. Choose another people. Teach them the deeds and the prophesies. Grant us but one more blessing: take back the gift of our holiness. Amen.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in 81st Annual Academy Awards (2009) (TV)

Soundtrack:

A Tants Fun Propoisk

Defiance Tells an Important Story

Read more at http://FrameRate.blog.com

When most people learn about World War II during their American History classes, they hear all about the major stories and the major players: D-Day, Eisenhower, the Holocaust, Hitler, Axis vs. Allies, Battle of the Bulge, but there are literally thousands of lesser-known stories from that era that many have not yet heard. It was one such obscure story that is the basis for the film Defiance, starring Daniel Craig.

The film begins with a familiar theme -- Nazi soldiers rounding up Jews in Western Europe. The grainy, black-and-white style tells us that this is a true story. However, as events unfold, we realize that this isn't the Holocaust story that we're accustomed to seeing in films like Schindler's List. In fact, it's a story about hundreds of Jews who fight for survival as free men and women in the dense and expansive forests of Nazi-occupied Poland.

Daniel Craig gives perhaps one of his best performances as Tuvia Bielski, the eldest of four Jewish brothers and the eventual leader of the Bielski partisans. Although the Bielski's and fellow Jews are forced to watch as their people are rounded up and killed by the Nazis, Tuvia wants to avoid becoming a group of vigilantes. The conflict arises from younger brother Zus (Liev Schreiber) who desperately wants to avenge the deaths of those he loved. Tuvia is conflicted by the knowledge that in extreme circumstances one must often take extreme measures in order to survive and protect others.

Throughout the film tension is woven by utilizing a number of different methods, all of which make the movie much more compelling. First, as mentioned, is the conflict between fighting and surviving. Second, is the suspense created by the knowledge that the Nazis are closing in around them. Third is the conflict between the Bielskis and the local police who are loyal to the Nazis. Fourth is the inner struggles the Bielskis face when some of their own decide to cause disagreements and divisions. For those unfamiliar with the story, the fate of the Bielskis is constantly in doubt.

The cinematography of the film is gray and muted, reflective of the somber tone of the subject matter. The musical score is reminiscent of John William's score in Schindler's List -- soft and sad with the cello and violin taking the melody. In some ways it feels that Defiance takes its visual cues from Schindler's List as well; there's something about the look of the movie that seems familiar. The battle scenes are similar in style to Saving Private Ryan, complete with the dazed, ringing-in-the-ears experience following a grenade that goes off too close to Tuvia. I would have appreciated a more unique perspective to the aesthetics of the film to coincide with the uniqueness of the story.

In all, Defiance is an important story that needs to be heard. Daniel Craig leads a great cast of characters in an emotional journey of community, camaraderie, and hope.