Home
Everything is Illuminated→Everything Is Illuminated
Jonathan Safran Foer·2005·Director: Liev Schreiber
75%
Faithfulness
3.9
Book Rating
3.7
Movie Rating
Platform: DVD
Elijah Wood, Eugene Hutz, Boris Lyoskin
The Book
Everything Is Illuminated is the first novel by the American writer Jonathan Safran Foer, published in 2002. It was adapted into a film of the same name starring Elijah Wood and Eugene Hütz in 2005.
The Film
A young Jewish American man, with the help of an eccentric local, endeavors to find the woman who saved his grandfather during World War II in a Ukrainian village that was ultimately razed by the Nazis.
Key Differences
The film simplifies the novel's complex narrative structure by focusing more on the journey than the internal monologues. The character of Alex is portrayed with less linguistic confusion than in the book. Some of the novel's magical realism elements are toned down or omitted in the film.
Our Verdict
Enjoy both!The film captures the emotional core of the novel while making necessary adaptations for the cinematic medium, making it worthwhile to both read and watch. The book offers deeper insight, but the film provides a visually engaging complement.
Reviews
No results found