EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED

This week's movie:
EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED

This movie turns out to be more complex than you expect. Not that that necessarily makes it good, more like a pleasant surprise. You can read the synopsis at the link above (by the way: clicking on the movie title (above) will open the film's page at the internet movie database, and from there, you can find out anything you want about the movie - in fact, more than you want to know).

The story: A young man travels to the Ukraine to find (and thank) the woman who, decades ago, saved his grandfather from the Nazis during WWII. The story is not so much about finding the woman as it is about the journey, and about the relationship with his guides. But of course, they eventually find her and are confronted with the realities of the holicaust. The director tempers this with humor though most of the film, much in the same way as "Life is Beautiful".

Warning!! If you've read the book, don't watch this movie! There are a number of negative reviews of the film out there, and they all seem to revolve around the feeling that the movie doesn't live up to the book. It must be a really good book. Whether or not this is true, I can't say, but as a stand-alone movie, it's terrific! - so watch it.

Enjoy.