The whole war genre is something I usually stay very far away from. But I was offered free tickets to a preview of this film, so I went with some friends. Although I have seen few war movies, this is definitely my favorite. Well worthwhile!

Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber and Jamie Bell star as the Bielski brothers, Polish Jews fleeing Nazi persecution and taking other refugees under their care as they go. Daniel and Liev were both wonderful to watch and listen to. I’m a fan of both of these actors, particularly Liev and this was an excellent role for him.

The story moved along at a good pace with plenty of time for character development. The strain between the two elder brothers as they struggled for self-definition was realistic. It was interesting to see them approach survival from the different angles of their personalities and the conflict that arose between them because of it. Inevitably though, the bonds of brothers are stronger than any other outward demand and together, the Bielski brothers are responsible for saving the lives of over 1000 people.