Bielski Family, Doc Make ‘Defiance’ Personal

By Tom Tugend
Published on April 16, 2009

The film “Defiance” told the story of the Bielski brothers, who led a group of partisans in fighting the Nazis and established a self-sustaining Jewish community in the forests of Belarus, but it didn’t show what is ultimately their greatest triumph.

Bielski Family, Doc Make ‘Defiance’ Personal

By Tom Tugend
Published on April 2, 2009

The film “Defiance” told the story of the Bielski brothers, who led a group of partisans in fighting the Nazis and established a self-sustaining Jewish community in the forests of Belarus, but it didn’t show what is ultimately their greatest triumph.

‘Defiance’ celebrates Jews’ daring acts of WW II resistance

By Tom Tugend
Published on December 25, 2008

"Every day of freedom is like an act of faith," says Tuvia Bielski, one of three brothers who led a partisan group battling Nazi troops in the forests of Belarus.

Less controversy surrounds this year’s Oscar foreign film entries

By Tom Tugend
Published on December 25, 2008

In contrast to previous years, there have been no acrimonious controversies so far. Apparently all sides have tired of arguing whether the Palestinian entry should be officially designated as coming from Palestine, the Palestinian Authority or the Palestinian territory, and plain "Palestine" has won out.

Zwick’s ‘Defiance’ brings heroes of Jewish anti-Nazi resistance to screen

By Tom Tugend
Published on November 19, 2008

Once he read the amazing story of the Bielski brothers, who not only fought the Nazis, but also struggled with hostile local populations and anti-Semitic Soviet troops, Zwick gradually discovered that there were hundreds of similar reports on Jewish resistance fighters.