They used to show films like this in art houses, which became retail space for drugstores.The tone, story, and camera work is impeccable. Details like the faded boxes and impossible sunflowers remain with us forever. The amber necklace becomes the collection, the story, the film, but only after.Due to translation or what remains unspoken, much of the conversation hangs unfinished in the air, or done with eye contact-even from Sammy Davis. Every character carries out a critical part of the story, with minimal dialogue. Each time the day dawns, the story moves forward.As with the Jarmusch movie Paterson, this film is like a poem about the source material. Rather than simply trying to replicate the book, the movie pays homage by creating its own rich space and mood.

I saw this at the film festival here and the audience really enjoyed it, myself included. I didn't realize until the credits that it was directed by actor Liev Schreiber (and in fact that it is the first feature film he has directred), and well done to him because this is a very good film, especially for a first time director's work.The acting is also very well done. I think he deserved awards for his work as the offbeat young man trying to track down strange people in a strange place. The movie has a lot of comedy but also heart. I think in places it drags a bit or gets a bit too silly, so the script isn't perfect but it is overall a very enjoyable movie going experience.

My friend recommended me to watch this movie. And it was a complete disappointment for me. I am half Jew and half Ukrainian, so I can judge it from both points of view. First, it is not a comedy at all, since it is not funny. Second, the movie is full of oxymoron and ridiculous things. For example, the constant usage of word 'jid', which is a swearword in Russian, in general. But most of all... Trabant!!! It is not a popular car in the former Soviet Union, it is even not rare, it is simply nonexistent. During my childhood in the USSR I even have not heard about such a car! It may be used as a symbol of GDR, but certainly not of the USSR or Ukraine. The most interesting thing is that the director and the most actors are Russians/Ukrainians (maybe former). So they probably should have noted all these inconsistencies. And third, the Elijah Wood's play is simply weak and not convincing.

I'll do my best to review this as a work of its own rather than to the source material. It always irritates me when a decent movie is repeatedly bashed for straying from the book/comic/what-have-you it was inspired by.As a film in its own right, Everything is Illuminated is slightly above average. The cinematography is passable. The seldom beautiful shot caught my attention.The music conveys emotion and the theme of the film splendidly. It suits all moments accurately and was enough to move me during the climax. All the acting is top-notch. Elijah Wood captures the character of Jonathan. But every powerful moment feels a little watered down and robbed of its true potential. This is attributed to the absence of most of the backstory. The context of our characters journey is lightly hinted at throughout, but the viewers never fully connect to the reasons for our character's actions. Everything is Illuminated, the movie, is only about an hour and a half long. Average for modern day films, but it would be twice as long if it had included segments told by Jonathan about his family's history. I would have preferred that. The most tearjerking parts of the book take place in these segments that were woefully excluded from the film.For what it is, Everything is Illuminated is adequate. Sadly it doesn't exceed in any one area to make it stand out. For that i give it a 6 out of 10