Sunshine (1999)

Director:

István Szabó

Writers (WGA):

István Szabó (story)
István Szabó (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

17 December 1999 (Canada)

Genre:

Drama | History | Romance | War

Tagline:

In a time of revolution, in a family torn by tradition, one man was consumed by love.

Plot:

The fate of a Hungarian Jewish family throughout the 20th century.

Plot Keywords:

Jewish | Three Generations | Hungarian | Hungary | Empire

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 10 wins & 13 nominations

Cast

Ralph Fiennes	...	Ignatz Sonnenschein / Adam Sors / Ivan Sors
Rosemary Harris	...	Valerie Sors
Rachel Weisz	...	Greta
Jennifer Ehle	...	Valerie Sonnenschein
Deborah Kara Unger	...	Maj. Carole Kovacs
Molly Parker	...	Hannah Wippler
James Frain	...	Gustave Sonnenschein
David de Keyser	...	Emmanuel Sonnenschein
John Neville	...	Gustave Sors
Miriam Margolyes	...	Rose Sonnenschein
Rüdiger Vogler	...	Gen. Jakofalvy
Mark Strong	...	Istvan Sors
Bill Paterson	...	Minister of Justice
Trevor Peacock	...	Comrade Gen. Kope
Hanns Zischler	...	Baron Margitta

Also Known As:

A napfény íze (Hungary)
Sunshine - Ein Hauch von Sonnenschein (Germany)
The Taste of Sunshine (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexuality, and for violence, language and nudity.

Runtime:

181 min

Country:

Germany | Austria | Canada | Hungary

Language:

English | French

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Chile:14 | France:U | Germany:12 (bw) | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) | Spain:13 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Berlin, Germany

Company:

Alliance Atlantis Communications

Trivia:

Jennifer Ehle, who plays Young Valerie, is the daughter of Rosemary Harris, who plays Older Valerie.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When Ivan and Carole have a brief talk on the banks of the Danube near the bridge, we see evening traffic on the quay at the opposite side of the river, with a considerable amount of cars passing by, headlights on. There would not have been this amount of traffic in Budapest in the 1950s.

Quotes:

Valerie: I have seen the collapse of government after government, and they all think they can last a thousand years. Each new one always declares the last one criminal and corrupt, and always promises a future of justice and freedom.

Movie Connections:

References Citizen Kane (1941)

Soundtrack:

Fantasia for Piano 4 Hands in F minor

Significant, powerful, and brilliantly/beautifully executed

One of the best films I've seen in many years. Long by current standards, but my interest/involvement never lagged for a moment. It works on many levels, all of which examine and ultimately show the futility of assimilation, given how unstable and unreliable is any governmental structure with which one attempts to identify. Effort to assimilate across generations in Hungary becomes increasingly demanding as the lived world becomes ever more dehumanizing and brutal. Fiennes has never been better in cross-generational roles, and others excellent as well. But a woman is the censor and conscience across time.