While spring is in the air and outside is in full bloom, May's Movie of the Month explores that motif of planting a seed and idea and watching it grow. The 2005 directorial debut from Liev Schrieber, Everything is Illuminated is a colorful and heartwarming film about discovering ones past, while discovering thyself. Based on the book by the same name, Schrieber adapted it for the screen and has been well received from audiences worldwide. Starring Elijah Wood as Jonathan Foer, a very intelligent and curious American collector who travels to the Ukraine to discover a family and past he never knew existed. Foer hires Alex, a very flamboyant and funny guide played by Gogol Bordello's Eugene Hutz, along with his "blind" Grandfather as their driver; the three men travel across the Ukraine for a city that was wiped off the map from the Nazi's. The three men try and work out their differences both culturally, linguistically and ethnically. From what begins as the road trip from hell, sparkles into the most meaningful journey of each man's lives. It is a film for all ages and families to see, and shows the ties that bind all of us are there if we are only willing to look. Backed by a great soundtrack from Gogol Bordello themselves (who also make one of my favorite cameo's in film history), as well as Russian Ska band Leningrad. Everything is Illuminated is the perfect film for this perfect season.Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Movie of the Month-Everything Is Illuminated
While spring is in the air and outside is in full bloom, May's Movie of the Month explores that motif of planting a seed and idea and watching it grow. The 2005 directorial debut from Liev Schrieber, Everything is Illuminated is a colorful and heartwarming film about discovering ones past, while discovering thyself. Based on the book by the same name, Schrieber adapted it for the screen and has been well received from audiences worldwide. Starring Elijah Wood as Jonathan Foer, a very intelligent and curious American collector who travels to the Ukraine to discover a family and past he never knew existed. Foer hires Alex, a very flamboyant and funny guide played by Gogol Bordello's Eugene Hutz, along with his "blind" Grandfather as their driver; the three men travel across the Ukraine for a city that was wiped off the map from the Nazi's. The three men try and work out their differences both culturally, linguistically and ethnically. From what begins as the road trip from hell, sparkles into the most meaningful journey of each man's lives. It is a film for all ages and families to see, and shows the ties that bind all of us are there if we are only willing to look. Backed by a great soundtrack from Gogol Bordello themselves (who also make one of my favorite cameo's in film history), as well as Russian Ska band Leningrad. Everything is Illuminated is the perfect film for this perfect season.