Today, I have a phone interview with Ed Zwick, writer/director of “Defiance” and a number of other movies and TV shows. The interview focuses on “Defiance,” starring Daniel Craig. As you may know, it’s the story of the Bielski brothers, Jewish partisans who fought back against the Nazis and saved hundreds of Jews. They are true heroes, and the movie captures that.
The movie is also important because it betrays the myth that Jews willingly went to the ovens and didn’t try to fight back–an allegation with which anti-Semites often confront me. The Bielskis and the Warsaw Ghetto uprising are the two most famous instances of many such efforts to stop Nazi evil. I’ve always said, Jews with guns are my favorite combo. And I especially love it on the big screen. Hate to paraphrase America’s most famous porn star (Paris Hilton), but “That’s hot.”
I’ve not yet posted my review of the movie, which I’m barred from doing by the studio, until the movie releases in Detroit. But I liked it, and I’ve written about it here. And, as a member of the Detroit Film Critics Society, I voted for it as one of the year’s best pictures, best ensembles, and Liev Schrieber as one of the year’s best supporting actors, as Zus Bielski. Zus’ son, Jay (who served in the IDF and is a New York doctor), wrote me that the movie captured his father perfectly.
So, what questions would you suggest I ask Zwick? Please post them in the comments section, and I’ll consider them for use in the interview. I’m posting the trailer [below the foild] as a refresher, but the movie is in nationwide release, next week.
One thing I plan to ask Zwick: Why do the Jews in Hollywood love portraying the bravery of Jews fighting tyranny 65 years ago, but can’t bring themselves to show the bravery of Jews fighting it in Israel today (and instead villainize them)? I know the answer, but I want to see what he says.