• Everything Is Illuminated (2005)

    A young Jewish-American man obsessed with his family history, Jonathan Safran Foer (Elijah Wood) decides to journey to the Ukraine to find out more about the life of his grandfather. Guided by Alex (Eugene Hutz), a rap-obsessed local, Jonathan ventures into the heartland of the Ukraine seeking to shed light on events that occurred to his grandfather during World War II. Joining Jonathan and Alex is the latter's surly grandfather (Boris Leskin) and a dog named Sammy Davis Jr. Jr.

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Everything Is Illuminated
58
metacriticBased on 35 Critics
79
Based on 57 Users

Release Date: 2005

DVD Release Date: March 21st, 2006

PG-13 |1 hr 46 min

Plot Summary

A young Jewish-American man obsessed with his family history, Jonathan Safran Foer (Elijah Wood) decides to journey to the Ukraine to find out more about the life of his grandfather. Guided by Alex (Eugene Hutz), a rap-obsessed local, Jonathan ventures into the heartland of the Ukraine seeking to shed light on events that occurred to his grandfather during World War II. Joining Jonathan and Alex is the latter's surly grandfather (Boris Leskin) and a dog named Sammy Davis Jr. Jr.

Cast: Elijah Wood, Eugene Hutz, Boris Leskin, Laryssa Lauret, Jonathan Safran Foer, Jana Hrabetova, Stephen Samudovsky, Oleksandr Choroshko

Director: Liev Schreiber

Genres: Comedy drama

Production Co: Warner Independent Pictures

Keywords: 2000s, Emotional, Quest

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Ratings & Reviews

  • 70
    Michael RechtshaffenThe Hollywood Reporter

    Leave it to Liev: Schreiber capably adds writer-director to his impressive resume with this winning take on the Jonathan Safran Foer novel. show more

  • 70
    Joe MorgensternWall Street Journal

    Not everything is illuminated in his (Liev Schreiber) version, but the book's humanity and humor shine through.

  • 88
    Roger EbertChicago Sun-Times

    A film that grows in reflection. The first time I saw it, I was hurtling down the tracks of a goofy ethnic comedy when suddenly we entered dark and dangerous territory. I admired the film but did not sufficiently appreciate its arc. show more

See all critic reviews on metacritic.com