DEFIANCE
Compelling true story of courage, faith and survival.
Should You Watch It?
DEFIANCE tells a remarkable true story of courage under relentless pressure. Three Jewish brothers flee the Nazis, gather other refugees and build a forest community that protects people who would otherwise be lost. The film is well made, well acted and emotionally deep, especially in its performances by Daniel Craig and Leiv Schreiber.
The movie’s strongest moral movement is away from revenge and toward faithful community. Its characters endure illness, winter, grief and internal conflict while learning to work together. It also speaks positively about God and faith, even as some characters struggle with doubt.
The cost is real. The film includes substantial wartime violence, foul language, drinking and implied sexual relations by an unmarried couple. For older teenagers and adults, DEFIANCE is worth seeing with discernment.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESDuring World War II, three Jewish brothers escape Nazi-occupied Poland after the Nazis slaughter their parents. In the Belarussian forest, they meet other Jewish refugees and begin building a community for people fleeing persecution.
The brothers respond differently to the danger around them. Zus wants to fight through raiding and revenge, while Tuvia leads the growing community toward protection, cooperation and survival.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means DEFIANCE is a strong, worthwhile film with some noticeable flaws. The movie is well made and well acted, especially by Daniel Craig and Leiv Schreiber as the two main brothers. Its emotional depth is profound as the characters endure continual hardship, and the underscore is compelling.
The film relies heavily on plot and drags a bit. It could have been trimmed to keep the pace more active. Still, the courage and emotional weight of the story give the film lasting power.
The Worldview
DEFIANCE presents a strong moral vision shaped by faith. The community learns to stop seeking revenge and instead sees living free from the Nazis as an act of faith. The film celebrates courage, sacrifice, marriage, the birth of a child and the decision to set aside differences in order to work together.
The movie also includes spiritual struggle. The Jewish community sometimes loses its focus on God, and one character prays, “God, choose another people.” Later, the village rabbi says that he almost lost his faith in God when they fled to the forest, but now believes Tuvia was sent by God to save them.
The film includes a humanist element when the refugees say that God will not part the water for them as He did for Moses, so they must do things themselves. That idea sits uneasily beside the film’s stronger emphasis on prayer, providence and belief in God.
The film’s rejection of revenge aligns with Scripture: “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord” (Romans 12:19).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Very strong moral, biblical worldview of doing good and not seeking revenge, praying to God in Jewish context, and belief in God, plus a humanist line that God is not likely to part a body of water for the good guys like he did for Moses so they have to do things for themselves; 21 obscenities and no profanities; much war violence, many characters shot in fighting, five characters shot close up, bombing, fist fight, man hung, man beaten by mob; implied sexual relations and woman puts man’s hand on her chest over sweater; upper male nudity, nude couple together but covered up; much drinking of alcohol; no smoking or drugs; and, anti-Semitic statements by Nazis and Russian soldiers and revenge rebuked.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The brothers must choose between revenge and protecting vulnerable people. What does Scripture say about leaving vengeance to God?
Romans 12:19 · Proverbs 20:22The refugees survive by setting aside differences and working together. What gifts or responsibilities do you bring to your own community?
1 Corinthians 12:12–27 · Philippians 2:3–4The characters struggle to keep faith during suffering. What can faithful waiting look like when God seems silent?
Psalm 13 · Romans 5:3–5The film connects freedom with faith and courageous action. How can trust in God lead us to act rather than remain passive?
James 2:17 · Ephesians 2:10The Final Word
DEFIANCE is a moving, well-acted true story with a strong moral center. Its wartime violence and adult content call for discernment, but older teenagers and adults can find courage, faith and sacrificial community here. For them, WORTH THE TRIP — OLDER TEENS AND ADULTS.
