Resistance (2020): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Resistance is a 2020 biographical drama directed by Jonathan Jakubowicz, starring Karl Markovics as Charles Mangel, Jesse Eisenberg and Bella Ramsey. It runs 2 hours and earned $449,753 worldwide. Critics gave it 57% on Rotten Tomatoes and 53 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.5/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h (120 min)
- Director
- Jonathan Jakubowicz
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- IFC Films
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Resistance About?
The premise of Resistance without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
During the Nazi occupation of Europe, Marcel Mangel's life takes a dramatic turn from carefree youth to perilous involvement with the Resistance. The aspiring actor and artist, Marcel, portrayed by Jesse Eisenberg, abandons his burlesque performances to undertake dangerous missions. He uses his talents to instruct orphaned Jewish children, equipping them with essential survival skills as they navigate the devastating realities of the Holocaust.
Resistance Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- screaming woman
- man wears makeup
- orthodox jew
- homophobia
- limoges france
- french resistance
- world war two
- strasbourg france
- lyon france
- germany
- nuremberg germany
- gestapo
+38 more Show fewer
- based on true story
- occupied france
- marcel marceau character
- torture
- sister sister relationship
- klaus barbie character
- year 1938
- year 1939
- swiss alps
- train station
- singing on a train
- french alps
- walking in the woods
- mime
- jew
- jewish
- nazi
- munich germany
- father daughter relationship
- orphan
- mother daughter relationship
- mother kisses her daughter
- father kisses his daughter
- foreign language spoken
- father kisses his daughter on her forehead
- circular staircase
- arrest
- beating
- kicking
- gun
- murder
- crying girl
- murder of mother
- murder of father
- prologue
- kongressshalle nuremberg germany
- george s. patton character
- u.s. soldier
Resistance Cast & Characters
Karl Markovics leads the cast as Charles Mangel, with Jesse Eisenberg as Marcel Marceau and Bella Ramsey as Elsbeth. Directed by Jonathan Jakubowicz; 12 actors are credited in all.
- Director Jonathan Jakubowicz
-
Karl Markovics as Charles Mangel -
Jesse Eisenberg as Marcel Marceau -
Bella Ramsey as Elsbeth -
Clémence Poésy as Emma
Also Starring in Resistance
· 8 more- Géza Röhrig Georges
- Matthias Schweighöfer Barbie
- Félix Moati Alain
- Vica Kerekes Mila
- Ed Harris General Patton
- Édgar Ramírez
- Alicia von Rittberg Regine
- Martha Issová Flora
More from Jonathan Jakubowicz
More films directed by Jonathan Jakubowicz, best-rated first: Hands of Stone, Secuestro express and Soul of a Nation.
Resistance Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Resistance 57% on Rotten Tomatoes and 53 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.5/10. Our Echo Score gives it 62/100, strongest in character & emotion (75) and weakest in rewatch factor (55).
Resistance Echo Score Breakdown
Resistance delivers a moderately engaging historical thriller that struggles to fully realize its narrative potential. Reviewers highlight the earnest central performances but note uneven pacing and an at-times generic approach to visual storytelling. The film’s direction and sound design provide intermittent tension, yet occasional disjointed editing and dated transitions detract from coherence. While character portrayals are emotionally grounded and the score occasionally heightens key moments, the inconsistent flow limits repeated viewings. The net result is a film with commendable intentions that remains watchable but rarely transcends familiar World War II conventions.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 60
In terms of art and craft, the film offers reliable direction and moments of visual strength amid uneven execution. Some critics praise its tense framing and measured editing for sustaining suspense, while others find the production design and thematic juxtapositions underdeveloped. The cinematography occasionally captures the period detail but shifts in style contribute to a dated feel. On balance, the film’s craft maintains basic competence but rarely achieves distinctive artistry.
- Character & Emotion 75
When it comes to character and emotion, the central performances provide a sincere anchor for the story. Many applaud Jesse Eisenberg’s nuanced portrayal of Marceau, and supporting roles deliver credible sincerity, particularly in tense moments. Critics note moments of subdued restraint, yet the lead’s emotional investment consistently registers. While depth varies across secondary figures, the film’s ensemble conveys authentic vulnerability. Overall, the characters offer a relatable core that sustains viewer engagement.
- Story & Flow 62
In terms of story and flow, Resistance presents an historically significant narrative but often struggles with pacing and coherence. Early sequences are slower to develop, leading to critiques of disjointed editing and generic plotting. However, the central premise of rescue and resistance retains emotional weight, and key action set-pieces provide intermittent engagement. Despite familiar tropes, the film’s earnest intent and occasional suspenseful sequences deliver enough momentum to carry the central arc.
- Sensory Experience 60
Regarding sensory experience, the film features a serviceable score and occasional visual flourishes that heighten tension. Some viewers commend the soundtrack’s measured crescendos during key sequences, while the period production design lends occasional authenticity. Yet inconsistencies in sound mixing and a subdued color palette contribute to moments of flatness. Overall, the audio-visual elements support the narrative adequately, though they seldom reach truly immersive or memorable heights.
- Rewatch Factor 55
When evaluating rewatch factor, Resistance offers a historically rooted drama that may appeal on a single viewing but lacks lasting novelty. The earnest performances and thematic resonance encourage reflection, yet recurring plot beats and predictable structure reduce its subsequent appeal. Viewers may revisit key scenes of heroism, but the uneven pacing and conventional storytelling limit broader repeat engagement. Consequently, the film can be revisited selectively, but it rarely sustains full rewatch enthusiasm.
-
IMDb 6.5 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 57% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 78%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 53 Metascore
User score 6.4
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 70% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.2 /5
14 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 5.0 /5
See on Movie Insider
Resistance Plot Summary
What happens in Resistance from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 5-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In 1938 Munich, under the grim shadow of Nazi rule, a young Jewish girl named Elsbeth Bella Ramsey suffers a brutal intrusion when Nazi Brown Shirts invade her home and murder her parents, leaving a fragile safety net fraying around her.
Full summary
The whole story of Resistance, scene by scene
Resistance Box Office
Resistance grossed $449,753 worldwide. $7,464 came from the US and Canada and $442,289 (98%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$449.8K
- US & Canada
- $7.5K
- International
- $442.3K
Resistance Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Resistance.
How Well Do You Know Resistance?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which actor portrays the aspiring artist Marcel Marceau in the film?
Resistance Also Known As
26 alternative titles, including “Jonathan Jakubowicz s RESISTANCE” and “Съпротива”.
- Also known as
-
- Jonathan Jakubowicz s RESISTANCE
- Съпротива
- Résistance - Widerstand
- Resistance - La voce del silenzio
- Niezłomni
- Resistencia
- 無聲救援
- Resistência
- 레지스탕스
- התנגדות
- 无声的抵抗
- Hnutí odporu
+14 more Show fewer
- Сопротивление
- Résistance
- Опір
- Отпор
- Kháng Chiến
- Ellenállás
- Pasipriešinimas
- Odpor
- Direniş
- 無聲的抵抗, წინააღმდეგობა
- 沈黙のレジスタンス 〜ユダヤ孤児を救った芸術家〜
- Rezistența
- Resistència
- Otpor
Seen Resistance?
Movies Like Resistance
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Resistance: 1942, Resistance and Private Resistance.
Resistance FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Resistance, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Resistance?
Resistance runs 2 hours (120 minutes).
When was Resistance released?
Resistance was released on March 27, 2020.
Who directed Resistance?
Resistance was directed by Jonathan Jakubowicz.
More films by Jonathan Jakubowicz Who is in the cast of Resistance?
Resistance stars Karl Markovics as Charles Mangel, Jesse Eisenberg as Marcel Marceau and Bella Ramsey as Elsbeth, among 12 credited actors.
How much did Resistance make at the box office?
Resistance grossed $449,753 worldwide ($7,464 domestic, $442,289 international).
How is Resistance rated?
Resistance has 6.5/10 on IMDb, 57% on Rotten Tomatoes, 53 on Metacritic and 70% on TMDB.
Does Resistance have a post-credit scene?
No. Resistance has no extra scene during or after the credits.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
