Is the Bielski partisans story one worth telling? Absolutely. Is it brought forth to the screen in a manner that does it the most justice? Doubtfully.
No doubt, filmmaker Edward Zwick had nothing but the best intentions in the manner in which he dramatized the story. Yet, it seems he felt a need to dramatically punctuate a story that is already soaked in drama. It is a classic case where less is more.
There are other accusations about the film, from small inaccuracies to deliberate story additions. But at its heart this is a story about ordinary people, facing unbearable circumstances and making the best they can out of it in order to survive. Some of this does come across the screen, in part by strong characterization of the lead actors. But it’s a film that could have been so much more.
On a separate note, it’s enjoyable to watch Daniel Craig in the lead role. Craig, though mostly pursuing the same rough personality along his movie career, does divert in terms of the scope of characters he portrays, be it a good-for-nothing handyman, taking advantage of an older widow in Mother, a no-bullshit James Bond, or a Jewish partisan.