You can hardly turn round for the clutter of good films just now. My expectations for this low-budget piece were poor, as I was only there for the opera. When I found out it wasn't an add-on to my 'Unlimited ' ticket, I decided to join my partner to see this.

At a fraction of the 'Slumdog' budget - it seemed to be shot entirely in Lithuanian woodland, with a job-lot of costumes and weapons -it kept me enthralled. Based on real events and characters, it's about a group of diplaced Jews in 1941 hiding out from the Nazis in bad weather with not enough food, so there's plenty of tension. The plot's laced with contentious brothers and some minor romantic interest involving Jamie Bell. Best of all,though, Daniel Craig as a craggy Robin Hood style leader. Makes his James Bond character look positively effete.

Sheila

I liked the look of Defiance in the clips, but I'm not sure I can buy Craig's tortured accent


- NaomiM

Oh, did you go the opera, SHeila? I saw it here in Cambridge and thought that maybe the critics were right when they said it wasn't one of his best. She was brilliant though!

Jem, I somehow thought I could get to see 'La Rondine' free, as my monthly 'Unlimited' ticket gets me into all the other screenings. I didn't want to pay £16 for an opera I hadn't even heard of, especially so soon after Christmas.

As for the accent, I'm not sure how it's supposed to sound anyway. Given such a multi-cultural cast I'm not surprised they opted for accented English. Quite apart from Daniel Craig and Jamie Bell, I think I even spotted the guy who took the part of 'Spider' in 'Coronation Street'.It seemed to be a case f 'If you look vaguely Russian, you're in.'

Sheila

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Besides, the role I had in mind for him wouldn't require much dialogue.