In the aftermath of the 2003 Baghdad invasion, Muthana Mohmed, a promising film student, speaks to an American television audience from the ruins of his city's film school. He recounts how his filmmaking aspirations were shattered first by Saddam Hussein and then by American bombs. This brief appearance on MTV unexpectedly alters Muthana’s future. Actor and director Liev Schreiber, watching in the U.S., is deeply moved and, feeling responsible for the war he opposed, offers Muthana a chance to work on an American film in Prague, "Everything Is Illuminated." However, on set, unmet expectations create difficulties in the relationship between Muthana and his American collaborators, turning what should be a collaborative project into a challenging cross-cultural experience. Filmmaker Nina Davenport becomes increasingly involved in Muthana’s life as his visa expires, and the possibility of returning to Baghdad becomes a growing concern.
