everything be illuminate a young jewish american search for the woman that help his grandfather escape nazi persecution while embark on a cross european tour with some unlikely associate . liev schreiber make his directorial debut with a playful angst usually associate with his act ethos . when successful actor decide to sit in the director chair and we usually get a biographical glimpse at the souls beneath the act mask check . we usually get a mishmash of genre check . but what we normally do not get be an insightful original film which be credible and intelligent and move . elijah wood play jonathan and an inquisitive young boy who collect piece of life a he go . he be on a mission to find a woman in a photograph . the sepia picture bear his grandfather ( an uncanny resemblance to him ) and the woman . to aid his journey he enlist the help of travel guide that comprise of a hip hop love break dancer and alex ( eugene hutz ) and his apathetic and perma vexed grandfather ( boris leskin ) and his dog sammy davis junior jr. what ensue be essentially a comedy . there be an un patronisingly simple introduction with voice over . alex be especially funny a he educate his younger brother on the year 1969 and prove how popular he be with the chick and break dance thus set him up a jonathan antithesis . schreiber begin to break down the character a they progress and the comedy act a an intentional veil to what be a story about three people link to the holocaust who do not really know themselves . all three hold the film with tenderness and authenticity something schreiber be unlikely to get wrong and a enchanting and fantastical a the film be and the horror that be allow to crack through and i. e. the past be present in an almost palatable tone ( incidental music and cinematography ) which make them all the more unsettling . a the unlikely group finally find the town they seek they learn of the true atrocity that occur and find out a lot about who they really be . elijah wood be as authentic a usual and bring his usual innocence and strength to the screen . formally a resident good in lord of the ring and a resident evil in sin city he play jonathan with aplomb a he be bombard with culture shock and a quest for truth . boris leskin a the grandfather also deliver his angst and frustration at the youth with great humour and conviction a his own past be unravelled . however and it be eugene hutz a alex that make the show . the director use that old trade of translation misunderstanding to create and maintain a humour that be actually funny and not gimmicky . schreiber have deliver an enchant debut that have both heart and soul . the continuous score and beautiful photography create a fairy tale haze around a story about identity and truth and family . if there be a complaint and it would be the speed at which the film change direction while though this could have be intentional it may not sit well with all . nevertheless this be a sterling effort that deliver great comedy and bonding between an unlikely group while dissect another aspect of the horror of world war 2 in a completely fresh fashion . chi and ojo .