Everything is Illuminated—Study Questions/Viewing Considerations

  1. What does it mean to be Jewish, according to this film?
  2. What is the nature of Jonathan’s collection? Why do you think he collects these items?
  3. Why do you think Jonathan makes this ‘very rigid search’?
  4. What impressions does the film give of Ukrainian culture – today, and in the past?
  5. Why does Alex write down the story of the search and send it to Jonathan?
  6. ‘When my Grandfather died I became curious about his history in the hope that it would somehow inform my own. I started to write a lot more and in particular about Ukraine. When I read Jonathan’s story I felt deeply connected to it.’ (Liev Shreiber). How well do you know your family history? Do you feel much of a connection to it? Why do you think it matters?
  7. What do you think is the meaning of Jonathan’s dream?
  8. ‘Do you think my grandfather is distressed? . . . It’s as if he’s dreaming all the time’ (Alex). What happens to Grandfather? How does the director use the moon imagery?
  1. Alex: (as Jonathan makes another addition to his collection) Why do you do this?Jonathan: Because sometimes I’m afraid I’ll forget. What things do you remember from Jonathan’s collection on the wall at home? Why do you think he chose those things in particular? How do you remember things, people, events?
  1. ‘I want you to know . . . my grandfather – he’s a good man’ (Alex to Jonathan).Why is this important to Alex?
  1. What is the significance of the articles in the box marked ‘In Case’? Why do you think Augustine and the other people of Trachimbrod buried their possessions? How would you like to be remembered?
  2. To what extent can the past be buried? How does your past affect your life today? How do you see the past in the people you know? What do you think is the best way to deal with the past?
  3. ‘The rings don’t exist because of us. We exist because of the rings’ (Lista). What do you think Lista means by this comment?
  1. ‘It’s really about people’s need to be connected. We follow these two people from vastly different cultures who should have absolutely nothing in common, but come to realize that there’s a deep connection between them that is emotionally and spiritually binding’ (Liev Shreiber). What connections are made by each of the main characters (Jonathan, Alex, Grandfather)?
  1. ‘Everything is illuminated in the light of the past. It is always on the inside looking out. Like you say, “inside out”’ (Alex, in his writings to Jonathan).Do you agree? How does this apply to Grandfather, and his choices?
  2. What are the effects of moral ambiguity on the characters?
  3. How does tragedy affect human life? Even their descendents?
  4. What are the effects of Grandfather’s choices?
  5. What are the consequences of people’s actions—do the positives outweigh the bad?
  6. What are the effects of the filmmaker’s stylistic choices?
  7. What are the effects of suppressing painful memories?
  8. What are the effects of humor on the overall film’s message?
  9. What causes people to forgive each other in the film?
  10. Occasionally everything is “illuminated” or alight—what causes the illumination?
  11. What effects do fantasy and reality have on the film’s message?
  12. Jonathon—
  13. Alex—
  14. Grandfather—
  15. Father—
  16. Mother—
  17. Little Igor—

For Midterm#2, you will be writing a causal argument essay considering the film Everything is Illuminated. In order to prepare for the essay, you must carefully consider the relationships between events, peoples’ actions, consequences for their behaviors, and morality in general.