Everything is illuminated
Everything is illuminated is a whimsical and sadly moving film at the same time. Debut by actor Liev Schreiber, it tells the story of Jonathan, a young Jewrish man who is an inveterate collectorof family items. Upon the death of his grandmother, he decides to trace his roots back to Ukraine and the bulk of the film is a road movie of returning to the past in post-Soviet run down Ukraine with his slightly smart-Alec guide Alex, Alex`s grandfather and the temperamental dog Sammy Davis Junior Junior ( a great canine performance). As the humour of the translations and the Ukrainian deprivations wear off the film takes on a serious note with Jonathan`s discovery of what really happened there in 1942. It ends up being a poignant story of the power of our past and our links. Good music especially and effective performances from Elijah Wood and Eugene Hutz. Different and very watchable.
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