Everything Is Illuminated

The new movie Everything Is Illuminated looks fantastic. It tells the story of Jonathan Foer (played by Elijah Wood), an American Jew who travels to Ukraine to trace his family history and meet the woman who rescued his grandfather during the Holocaust. The movie seems to respectfully portray a Holocaust tale, while still managing to throw in black comedy and absurdity.

The trailer features an amusing conversation about vegetarianism between Foer and Alex Perchov (played by Eugene Hutz, an "Honorary Heeb" and the frontman of gypsy-punk band Gogol Bordello), reminiscent of the "What do you mean he don't eat no meat?" scene in My Big Fat Greek Wedding:

Jonathan: I'm a vegetarian.
Alex: You are a what?
Jonathan: I don't eat meat.
Alex: Pork?
Jonathan: No.
Alex: Chickens?
Jonathan: No!
Alex: What about the sausage?
Jonathan: No meat!
Alex: What is wrong with you?

The Canadian Jewish News notes:

And the Perchovs are dumbfounded by Foer's vegetarianism in a country where no real meal passes without a hearty slab of meat.

In a terrific scene in a ramshackle Soviet-style hotel, Foer manages to convince a sullen waitress to serve him a meagre vegetarian meal. Of course, the Perchovs can't understand his aversion to meat, and that brings out further laughs.

Everything Is Illuminated is already playing in New York and Los Angeles. Let's hope it expands far and wide ASAP.