Review of Everything Is Illuminated (2005) by Tejas V — 27 Sep 2010

Everything Is Illuminated.

A sentimental and humors journey to find the roots of his family.

Everything Is Illuminated is the directorial debut of actor Liev Schreiber(Defiance, x-men). Schreiber also wrote the screenplay. Movie starts with sweetly and sublimely funny from the first delicious line of narration.

I dont ve any expection on this one before. but this one is worth to watch.

Jonathan is a collector. His love for his grandparents is boundless. He watches as his grandfather dies and as his grandmother is on what appears to be her death bed. On a clear moment, this dying woman gives Jonathan a picture and an amber ornament for his collection. Watching the photograph, taken a long time ago, a young couple are seen together. Watching makes Jonathan think it shows the grandfather and his girlfriend, taken on happier times. Watching the snapshot seems to be the motivation for this intense young man to go looking for his ancestors' past in the Ukraine.

Top of the Eljah Wood is really good and acted as a really innocent jewish and does an excellent work by underplaying Jonathan. Mr. Wood makes one of his best appearances in any film with his interpretation of the main character.

This is a heart-felt tale about someone who is on a seemingly hopeless journey. A stranger in a strange land so to speak. Jonathan is not entirely prepared for this adventure, there he meets Eugene Hutz (playing Jonathan's Ukrainian tour-guide and translator, Alex) who truly steals this film. Alex is a hip-hop-lovin' Ukrainian break-dancer who, along with his grandfather, helps Jonathan find the woman who saved Jonathan's grandfather's life during World War II. Alex speaks a kind of English no one speaks and his conversation and translation, for Jonathan's benefit are hilarious to our ear for the use of sometimes unheard English terms. The old man insists in taking his dog, Sammy Davis Jr., against the wishes of Jonathan, who doesn't want to sit next to the snarling and barking dog during the trip.

But what he discovers is more, much more than he anticipated. This movie will make you laugh and will make you cry.

The scenery is wonderful and the musical score is a treat with wonderful Eastern European influences. Be sure you stay through the credits for the final tune.

Schreiber does a wonderful job visualizing the human urge to document history.

My Rating: 3.75/5.