Thread: Everything Is Illuminated (trailer, review, soundtrack)

Jonathan Safran Foer, a young American Jew, journeys to Ukraine in search of Augustine, the woman who saved his grandfather's life during the Nazi liquidation of Trachimbrod, his family shtetl. Armed with maps, cigarettes and many copies of an old photograph of Augustine and his grandfather, Jonathan begins his adventure with Ukrainian native and soon-to-be good friend, Alexander "Alex" Perchov, who is Foer's age and very fond of American pop culture, albeit culture that is already out of date in the United States.
Alex studied English at his university, and even though his knowledge of the language is not "first-rate", he becomes the translator. Alex's "blind" grandfather and his "deranged seeing-eye bitch," Sammy Davis, Jr., Jr., accompany them on their journey. Throughout the book, the meaning of love is deeply examined.

The writing and structure received critical acclaim for the manner in which it switches between two story arcs: (1) fragments of Foer-the-character's novel-in-progress, where he tells in highly literary English a quasi-magical story about the citizens of Trachimbrod; and (2) a straightforward narrative of searching for Trachimbrod (an invented name for the real village Trochenbrod), as told by Alex in broken English. They are tied together by letters sent from Alex to Foer and attached to Alex's version. Alex's narrative is notable for its broken English, which sounds as if he learned English from a thesaurus without ever hearing it spoken. Throughout his narrative, he makes frequent use of improper synonyms, such as using the word rigid to mean "difficult" or "hard".

Everything is Illuminated Soundtrack List:

"Shakedown"
Written by Jack Livesey
Performed by The Con Artists
Courtesy of Duotone Audio Group Ltd


"Hittin' Bricks"
Written by Jack Livesey and Pete Miser
Performed by The Con Artists
Courtesy of Duotone Audio Group Ltd


"So Sensitive"
Written by Pete Miser
Performed by Pete Miser
Courtesy of Ho-Made Media


"Bublitschki"
Traditional
Performed by Gogol Bordello


"The Star Spangled Banner"
Written by Francis Scott Key
Performed by Gogol Bordello


"Amari Szi, Amari"
Written by Keren Chave
Performed by Csokolom
Arranged by Anti Von Klewitz and Tradition Music Co.
Courtesy of Arhoolie Records


"Zvezda Rok-n-rolla"
Written by Sergei Shnurov
Performed by Leningrad
Courtesy of S.B.A. Productions


"Hello, Hello"
Traditional
Performed by Arkadi Severny
Courtesy of Master Sound Records / CD Now Moscow


"Malen'kiy Mal'chik"
Written by Sergei Shnurov
Performed by Leningrad
Courtesy of S.B.A. Productions


"Dikiy Muzhchina"
Written by Sergei Shnurov
Performed by Leningrad
Courtesy of S.B.A. Productions


"Cudna Zena"
Written by Nestor Cok Rakia
Performed by Kocani Orkestar
Courtesy of Crammed Discs by arrangement with Ocean Park Music Group


"Fear of the South"
Written by Mark Orton
Performed by Tin Hat Trio
Courtesy of Ropeadope/Artemis Records


"Start Wearing Purple"
Written by Gogol Bordello
Performed by Gogol Bordello