BLOND, blue-eyed Daniel Craig wouldn’t be everyone’s first choice to play a Polish, Jewish freedom fighter, but fortunately he, like the rest of the cast, is in terrific form in this gripping wartime adventure.

It’s 1941 and the Nazis have begun slaughtering the Jews of what is now Belarus. The four Bielski brothers flee to the forest and begin striking back.

Swiftly they attract dozens of refugees, drawn to the ideal of “living free, even if it’s for one more day” while brothers Tuvia (Craig) and Zus (Liev Schreiber) clash over just what that means.

It’s good, but you can’t help feeling a less leisurely running time and more focused story would make this a classic, instead of an enjoyable but workmanlike film.