Defiance and the Pianist

Defiance and The Pianist both are different ways of viewing the Holocaust. Instead of the focus being on how the Jews were discriminated upon, both movies show how some Jews did not allow themselves to be victimized by the Germans. Very few account recount the Jewish resistance that occurred, most chose to focus on their destruction and death. The fact that both are based on the true stories of survivors adds a sense of validity to the movies. Each personal testimony allows the viewer to see the varying ways Jews reacted to the German encroachment upon their lives. Both movies are prime examples of the Jewish resistance movement, as well as how historical accounts are portrayed on screen and how close they stay to the truth.

In Defiance, the deviations from the historical record are used to emphasis certain aspects of the movie. In the beginning sequence the audience can see how there is a mesh of video of Hitler imposed with footage that the director made to look older. If a person had never seen the original footage they would not see the subtle mixture of fact and fiction. But this practice raises the question should directors be able to add or subtract from the historical accuracy of a movie, especially one with a subject matter such as the Holocaust. In the case of movies that are based on the real life experiences of individuals the deviation makes the matter more accessible to a large group of people. There are many aspects of someones life are not easily readable when place on the screen. In order for them to be understood some liberty must be given to the director to make them understandable to someone who may not know the culture or the traditions behind the actions. In a scene of Defiance Zus, played by Liev Schreibe...

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...and thrive while in the forest, they show at every turn that they are not going to willing let themselves be killed or intimidated by the German army. Showing that even little actions can be resistance to a larger force, is continuing with the spirit of the movie that states that each person is in charge of their fate, and they must choose how they live it out.

In conclusion, both movies are clear on their stance of resistance, as well both do not try and state that their position is the only one and that any way a person chooses, resistance is something that many Jews were involved in and saw as way to preserve not only themselves but the names that they carried. Though the presentation of both films are polar opposites they both follow the notion that violence does not have to be used to save a people. A people can be saved by the strength and wisdom on one man.