FAQ for
Defiance (2008) More at IMDbPro »

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For detailed information about the amounts and types of (a) sex and nudity, (b) violence and gore, (c) profanity, (d) alcohol, drugs, and smoking, and (e) frightening and intense scenes in this movie, consult the IMDb Parents Guide for this movie. The Parents Guide for Defiance can be found here.

Yes. Defiance is based on a book by author Nechama Tec entitled Defiance: The Bielski Partisans. The book was adapted for the movie by director Edward Zwick and screenwriter Clayton Frohman. For further reading, there is The Bielski Brothers (2004) by Peter Duffy.

"Malbushim," Hebrew, plural of "Malbesh," literally means clothes. It is something like calling people empty suits or clothes racks and is intended to mean that they are completely and utterly useless.

The Bielskis' native language is Yiddish, which is influenced by German, Russian and Hebrew. While growing up, the Bielskis learned Belarussian from their neighbors and also experienced various occupations by Russians, Poles and Germans. To varying degrees, they picked up other languages out of necessity. Tuvia also learned German during World War I when the Germans occupied their land.

Yes. Tuvia was a corporal in the Polish Army where he even served as a drill instructor. Asael and Zus had both previously served in the Soviet Army.

The Swiss Panzer 61 was used to create the mock up of the Panzer 3 German tank shown in the last battle scene. Both have six road wheels, but one give away is the sprocket - the Panzer 3 sprocket wheel was in front, the Swiss tank in the rear. The mock up also has round hatches for the driver, while the German tank had square hatches. The cannon is also clearly different.