The Bielski Brothers: Jerusalem in the Woods (DVD Review)

In response to the box office success of the Daniel Craig film, “Defiance,” The History Channel has released onto DVD the television documentary on the real life brothers who inspired the Hollywood film. “The Bielski Brothers: Jerusalem in the Woods” tells the true story of the “Bielski Brigade.” They were a group of Jewish survivors in Nazi occupied Belarussia, who fled the ghetto to establish a refuge in the forest.

Under the leadership of Tuvia Bielski and his brothers Zus and Asael, the group of survivors grew to 1,200 men, woman, and children. The communities built complex structures such as hospitals, bathhouses and synagogues. They constantly had to relocate in order to avoid discovery by Nazi soldiers and villagers eager to earn a little money by ratting them out. The group built a sizeable arsenal, which they used to attack German patrols and take retribution on citizens who collaborated with Nazi forces.

This made for TV documentary combines actual footage of the forest haven with interviews of surviving refugees and Bielski family members. The documentary follows the conservative visual style of most History Channel programs.

This DVD release has no bonus features or menus besides a chapter selection. “The Bielski Brothers: Jerusalem in the Woods” felt like it should have been a special feature on the Defiance DVD, instead of a stand-alone release. The packaging and material are high quality, but at the end of the day it’s still a just History Channel stand-alone episode.

For the history buff or “Defiance” super-fan, the program may be a nice addition to your library. I just wouldn’t recommend buying this DVD for its cinematic experience.

DVD Features:
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