By D Kegan

Audiences have been suffering from a lackluster year of mediocre films filled with ridiculous plots, cheesy horror flicks and bad acting. Leave it to an uplifting story about the Holocaust to be the first film since the penguins marched that has been not only worthwhile, but essential to any one who is interested in good film making. “Illuminated” is the little indie that could make you go to the movies again.

Based on the critically acclaimed novel by Jonathan Safran-Foer, “Everything is Illuminated” was adapted for the screen by first time director Liev Schrieber. It is unclear how autobiographical Safran-Foer writes since he is the main character of his own story. What is clear is the depth and simplicity of a man on a journey to his past and the ripple effect he has on those he encounters.

Elijah Wood plays Jonathan Safran-Foer, who after the death of his grandmother, travels to the Ukraine in hopes of finding a woman named Augustine who helped his grandfather escape the Nazi occupation during war. The only lead he has is a photo of his grandfather with Augustine the day he escaped the town of Trachimbrod which has since been wiped off the map. He hires a tour company who, unbeknownst to him, is a wacky Ukrainian family operating the business out of their house using the family car. The grandfather is the designated driver who claims he is going blind and needs the aid of his seeing eye bitch named “Sammy Davis Jr. Jr.” His grandson Alex is the only one in the family who speaks English, and is reluctantly forced to accompany the American and grandfather when he would rather be immersing himself in hip-hop and American culture. The three men and the dog head out on a road trip that will hange and connect their lives forever.

Elijah Wood finding his way out the confusion in Warner Independent's EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED.

Schrieber has proved himself through his great range and caliber in his acting career, and now he shows great talent and vision in directing as well. Despite a slow start, he keeps the film flowing at a brisk pace using chapters to set up the story. The Holocaust and it's survivors are a heavy subject to tackle and it has certainly been done before. Yet Schrieber's unique perspective is clearly understated, oddly whimsical and still powerful in it's simplicity.

Elijah Wood is spot on as the clinically anal Jonathan. He is an observer of life, a documentarian, not a participant. A self-proclaimed “collector”, he collects objects in little plastic bags that will remind him of his journey and that will connect him to his past. He is the conscience that will never let us forget our collective history. The heart of the movie belongs to Alex, played by Eugene Hutz. It is through his disarmingly funny narration that we understand not only the differences in perspective between the east and west cultures, but that we can relate to him through his humorous acceptance of his own unremarkable life. The soul of the movie belongs to grandfather, brilliantly played by Boris Leskin. His curmudgeonly demeanor masks the secrets he carries until the moment of revelation where we see a man who has lost so much of his life to protect those he loves. It would be remiss of this review if it did not include a mention of Laryssa Lauret in her brief but powerful performance as Lista.

This is essentially a simple story of the importance of remembrance, the legacy of the Holocaust and the universal connection that we all share.

Everything is Illuminated is rated PG-13 and is currently playing in select theaters.