Sunshine (1999)

Director:

István Szabó

Writers (WGA):

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

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 | Holocaust | Empire | Three Generations | Judge

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 11 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 Kovács
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	...	István Sors
Bill Paterson	...	Minister of Justice
Trevor Peacock	...	Comrade Gen. Kope
Hanns Zischler	...	Baron Margitta
Mari Töröcsik	...	Older Kato
Katja Studt	...	Kato
Péter Andorai	...	Anselmi
Péter Halász	...	Wild Duck
William Hurt	...	Andor Knorr
Ádám László	...	Emmanuel at 12
Balázs Hantos	...	Aaron Sonnenschein
Kathleen Gati	...	Josefa Sonnenschein
Vilmos Kun	...	Rabbi Bettelheim
Jácint Juhász	...	Mr. Hackl
Flóra Kádár	...	Mrs. Hackl
Kati Sólyom	...	Landlady in Vienna
Joachim Bißmeier	...	Dr. Emil Vitak
Tamás Fodor	...	Notary
Tamás Raj	...	Rabbi at Wedding
Zoltán Bognár	...	Doctor #1 (as Dr. Zoltán Bognár)
Attila Lõte	...	Count Forgach
Sándor Simó	...	Doctor #2
Frederick Treves	...	Emperor
István Hirtling	...	Dr. Lanyi
Zoltán Gera	...	Man at Synagogue
András Fekete	...	Footman
Bálint Trunkó	...	István at 18
János Nemes	...	Ádám at 17 / Ivan at 16
Tamás Juranics	...	Commander of Lenin Boys
András Stohl	...	Red Guard
Tamás Keresztes	...	1st Boy
Bence Kotány	...	2nd Boy
Zsolt László	...	Lugosy
Gábor Mádi Szabó	...	Priest at Conversion
István Szilágyi	...	Hungler
László Gálffi	...	Rossa (as László Gálfi)
Zoltán Seress	...	Tersikovsky
István Bubik	...	Saray
Eszter Ónodi	...	Secretary at Officer's Club
Sándor Dánffy	...	Policeman
Buddy Elias	...	Mr. Brenner
Károly Mécs	...	Defense Secretary
Ádám Rajhona	...	Caretaker
Péter Takács	...	Stefano Sarto
Lásló Szepesi	...	Olympic Judge
János Kulka	...	Molnár
Lajos Kovács	...	MP in Camp
Gábor Máté	...	Rosner
Israel Horovitz	...	Poet
Andrea Fullajtár	...	Agota Hofer
György Kézdi	...	Outraged Man (as György Kézdy)
Tamás Jordán	...	Sommer
István Fonyó	...	Warehouse Guard
József Fonyó	...	Prison Sergeant
Frigyes Hollósi	...	Mr. Ledniczky
Ila Schütz	...	Mrs. Ledniczky
János Vészi	...	Doctor #3
Ica Gurnik	...	Woman in Hospital
Éva Igó	...	Policewoman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jack Beresford	...	Himself - Berlin Olympics, Carries UK Flag (archive footage) (uncredited)
Wilhelm Brückner	...	Himself - Behind Hitler at Microphones (archive footage) (uncredited)
Henri de Baillet-Latour	...	Himself - with Hitler and Diem (archive footage) (uncredited)
Gudrun Diem	...	Herself - Presents Flowers to Hitler (archive footage) (uncredited)
Wilhelm Frick	...	Himself - Beside Hitler at Microphones (archive footage) (uncredited)
Josef Goebbels	...	Himself - Beside Hitler at Microphones (archive footage) (uncredited)
Rudolf Hess	...	Himself - Beside Hitler at Microphones (archive footage) (uncredited)
Adolf Hitler	...	Himself - at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin (archive footage) (uncredited)
Wilhelm Keitel	...	Himself - Accompanies Hitler and Baillet-Latour (archive footage) (uncredited)
King Umberto II	...	Himself - Beside Hitler at Microphones (archive footage) (uncredited)
Nikkolas Lavorato	...	(uncredited)
Theodor Lewald	...	Himself - with Hitler and Diem (archive footage) (uncredited)
Julius Schaub	...	Himself - Behind Hitler at Microphones (archive footage) (uncredited)
Fritz Schilgen	...	Himself - Berlin Olympics, Lights Flame (archive footage) (uncredited)
Sándor Szakácsi	...	Ignatz Sonnenschein / Adam Sors / Ivan Sors (voice) (uncredited)
Werner von Blomberg	...	Himself - Beside Hitler at Microphones (archive footage) (uncredited)

Directed by
István Szabó

Writing credits (WGA)
István Szabó		(story)
István Szabó		(screenplay) and
Israel Horovitz		(screenplay)

Produced by
Jonathan Debin	....	executive producer
Andras Hamori	....	producer
Danny Krausz	....	co-producer
Rainer Kölmel	....	executive producer
Robert Lantos	....	producer
Gabriella Prekop	....	associate producer
Julia Rosenberg	....	associate producer
Lajos Óvári	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Maurice Jarre

Cinematography by
Lajos Koltai

Film Editing by
Michel Arcand
Dominique Fortin

Casting by
Leo Davis

Production Design by
Attila Kovács		(as Attila F. Kovács)

Art Direction by
Zsuzsanna Borvendég

Set Decoration by
Christian Eder
Attila Köves
Miklós Molnár
Josef Riehs
Stefan Würzl

Costume Design by
Györgyi Szakács

Makeup Department
Judit Endrényiné	....	makeup artist (as Judit Endrényi)
Erzsébet Forgács	....	makeup supervisor
Judit Halász	....	hair stylist
Nóra Koltai	....	assistant hair stylist
Nóra Koltai	....	assistant makeup artist
Georg Korpas	....	hairdresser: Mr. Fiennes (as Georg Korpás)
Ildikó Makk	....	hair stylist
Paolo Mantini	....	hair designer: Mr. Fiennes
Peter Owen	....	hair designer: Mr. Fiennes
Erzsébet Rácz	....	supervising hair stylist
Jeremy Woodhead	....	makeup artist: Mr. Fiennes

Production Management
Ralph Brosche	....	production manager: Berlin
Christine Jahn	....	post-production supervisor: Germany
Dorothea Schmid	....	production supervisor: Berlin
Dorothea Schmid	....	production supervisor: Kinowelt
György Sánta	....	production manager (as Geörgy Sánta)
Erika Tamás	....	assistant unit manager
Gábor Téni	....	unit manager
Stephanie Wagner	....	production manager: Vienna
Lori A. Waters	....	post-production supervisor (as Lori Waters)
Lajos Óvári	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gábor Gajdos	....	first assistant director
Kerric Macdonald	....	second assistant director (as Kerric MacDonald)
Mariann Ungi	....	second assistant director

Art Department
János Csakó	....	stand-by props
Judit Csák	....	assistant set decorator
Gábor Fodor	....	assistant set decorator
Peter Gantner	....	property master (as Péter Gantner)
Éva Gerö	....	assistant set decorator
István Gál	....	carpenter
István Horváth	....	assistant set decorator
Zoltán Horváth	....	assistant set decorator
Jiri Juda	....	property buyer
József Kiss	....	construction coordinator
László Nagy	....	construction coordinator
Regina Rauter	....	buyer
Kurt Rosner	....	construction crew: Vienna
Heli Schnöller-Malec	....	painter: Vienna
Lajos E. Szabó	....	carpenter
István Tóth	....	assistant set decorator
Zoltán Tóth	....	stand-by props
László Varga	....	stand-by props
Zoltán Varga	....	assistant set decorator
Tommy Vögel	....	key set decorator
Tibor Égenhoffer	....	construction coordinator
Attila Kovács	....	set designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Vanessa Baker	....	adr coordinator: Lyps Inc
Fred Brennan	....	supervising dialogue editor
Richard Cadger	....	dialogue editor
Paul Carr	....	adr mixer: Goldcrest Studios
Elius Caruso	....	sound re-recording engineer
Alison Clark	....	adr editor
Sue Conley	....	adr editor
Wayne Constanteau	....	assistant foley mixer
Roderick Deogrades	....	sound effects editor
Christopher Donaldson	....	second assistant sound effects
Keith Elliott	....	sound re-recording engineer
Glen Gauthier	....	sound mixer
Janice Ierulli	....	adr editor
Graham Jones	....	second assistant dialogue editor
Peter Kelly	....	sound re-recording engineer
Darcy Kite	....	sound re-recording engineer (as Darcey Kite)
Andy Malcolm	....	foley artist
Ron Malligers	....	foley mixer (as Ron Mellegers)
David McCallum	....	sound effects editor
Fumiko Moribe	....	assistant foley mixer
John Palmieri	....	second assistant sound effects
Daniel Pellerin	....	supervising sound re-recording engineer
Brent Pickett	....	sound effects trainee
Mac Ruth	....	cable person
Alan Sallabank	....	adr mixer: DB Post Production (as Alan Salabank)
Julie Saragosa	....	second assistant sound effects editor
Holger Schwalk	....	assistant sound engineer
Greg Shim	....	adr recordist
Mark Shnuriwsky	....	sound effects editor
Alicia Stevenson	....	foley artist
Etoile Stewart	....	first assistant dialogue editor
Mirek Stiles	....	assistant sound engineer
Ted Swanscott	....	adr mixer: De Lane Lea Studios
Wayne Swingle	....	dialogue editor
Pál Szûrös	....	boom operator
Jane Tattersall	....	supervising sound effects editor
Andrew Tay	....	adr recordist
Andrew Tay	....	foley mixer
Andrew Tay	....	sound re-recording engineer
Brad Thornton	....	sound re-recording engineer
Tony Van den Akker	....	location foley mixer (as Tony van den Akker)
Robert Warchol	....	first assistant sound effects
Rebecca Wright	....	assistant foley mixer
Sharon Zupancic	....	foley artist
Gren-Erich Zwicker	....	first assistant dialogue editor
Stephen Barden	....	sound conforming editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Gábor Csákovics	....	pyrotechnician (as Gábor Csákovits)
Gyula Krasnyánszky	....	pyrotechnician
Ferenc Ormos	....	special effects supervisor
Daniel Parker	....	freezing effect
Gabor Kiszelly	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Stunts
Sándor Boros	....	stunts
György Kivés	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Csaba Bankhardt	....	electrician
György Berghoffer	....	electrician
Balázs Bélafalvy	....	second camera operator
István Decsi	....	focus puller
József Gottlieb	....	grip
Christian Gruber	....	generator operator: Vienna
Ákos Gulyás	....	second assistant camera
Károly Gál	....	best boy electric
Zoltán Jánossa	....	grip
Gyula Latorczai	....	electrician
Zsigmond Molcsány	....	rigging gaffer (as Zsigmond Molcsán)
Tamas Nyerges	....	Steadicam operator (as Tamás Nyerges)
Tibor Oláh	....	video assistant
Peter Sorel	....	still photographer
Balázs Szinte	....	assistant camera
Rudolf Takács	....	gaffer
Mark Tillie	....	still photographer
József Trombitás	....	grip
András Tóth	....	key grip
Jörg Widmer	....	Steadicam operator: Berlin
András Váradi	....	focus puller (uncredited)

Casting Department
Deirdre Bowen	....	casting: North America
Brendan Donnison	....	adr voice casting: Lyps Inc.
Mária Kulcsár	....	additional casting: Hungary
Tamás Kertész	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Imre Béres	....	dresser
Imre Béres	....	tailor
Anikó Fazekas	....	dresser
Gabriella Hógye	....	dresser (as Gabi Hógye)
Attila Jánosi	....	dresser
Timea Luzsi	....	assistant costume designer
Gábor Simkó	....	dresser
Zsuzsa Stenger	....	wardrobe master (as Zsuzsanna Stenger)
Gyula Zámbó	....	dresser

Editorial Department
Tim Craig	....	first assistant editor
Christa Garmeier	....	negative cutter
Trish Gibney	....	post-production assistant: Canada
Nicholas Goodwin	....	assistant editor: Germany
Pierre Guérin	....	technical consultant: editing
P.J. Harling	....	assistant editor: Hungary
Réka Lemhényi	....	trainee editor: Hungary
Ingrid Lingenberg	....	color timer
Frank J. Müller	....	assistant editor: Germany (as Frank Müller)
Stefan Pfleger	....	assistant editor: Germany
Isabel Prochnow	....	post-production assistant: Germany
Dov Samuel	....	assistant editor: Canada
Deanna Strong	....	post-production coordinator: Canada
Margit Wiltschko	....	assistant editor: Germany
Christine Zech	....	assistant editor: Germany
Aaron Marshall	....	assistant editor: Canada (uncredited)

Music Department
Jonathan Allen	....	music recordist: choir
Martin Bell	....	assistant music editor
Bob Bornstein	....	music preparation (as Robert Bornstein)
Catherine Bott	....	musician: soprano
Dina Eaton	....	music editor
Mártha Fábian	....	musician: zymbol
Isobel Griffiths	....	choral contractor
Holger Groschopp	....	musician: piano and organ
Maurice Jarre	....	conductor
Doris Lütz	....	music coordinator
Shawn Murphy	....	music mixer: choir
Shawn Murphy	....	music recordist: choir
Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester Berlin	....	music performed by
Patrick Russ	....	music arranger
Nikolai Schulze-Sölde	....	music clearances

Transportation Department
János Bodor	....	unit driver
Zoltán Fohn	....	unit driver
Csaba Forgo	....	unit driver (as Csaba Forgon)
Boris Jendreyko	....	post-production driver: Germany
János Kaszab	....	unit driver
Attila Kiss	....	unit driver
Janos Koncsek	....	unit driver (as János Koncsek)
Attila Kovács	....	unit driver
Csaba Lengyel	....	unit driver
Tamás Maros	....	transportation coordinator
Hugh McLellan	....	driver: motorhome
István Meggyes	....	unit driver
Tibor Papp	....	unit driver
Klaus Schultz	....	post-production driver: Germany
József Szabó	....	unit driver
László Szalamonidesz	....	unit driver
Gábor Vámosi	....	driver: camera van
János Zeve	....	unit driver
Csaba Bagossy	....	assistant transportation (uncredited)

Other crew
Imre Balla	....	travel services: Columbus Travel
Eva Banhidi	....	production consultant
Eva Banhidi	....	script supervisor
Réka Belsô	....	production interpreter
János Berki	....	mechanical engineer
Farkas Borsa	....	interpreter
Nan Brown	....	post-production accountant
William Cameron	....	title designer: main titles, Gamma Studios
Cherri Campbell	....	assistant: Mr. Lantos
Catherine Charlton	....	dialogue coach
Jeff Chesher	....	digital transfers
Peter Dress	....	accountant: Germany
Krisztina Esztergályos	....	production assistant
Angelo Friedel	....	runner: Berlin
Paul Gottlieb	....	original translator
Geoffrey Grafwallner	....	technical supporter: ARRI TV
Tamás Guba	....	location manager
Daniel Guckau	....	head of acquisitions and development: Kinowelt
Ildikó Hidas	....	interpreter
Judit Huba	....	assistant production accountant
László Janicsek	....	assistant: Mr. Szabó (as László Janiesek)
Andreas Kahri	....	location manager: Vienna
Linda Kang	....	assistant: Mr. Hamori
Gabor Kiszelly	....	mechanical engineer (as Gábor Kiszelly)
Susanne Kolar	....	accountant: Austria (as Susanna Kolar)
Lacia Kornylo	....	head of production: Alliance Atlantis
Ágota Kovács	....	production coordinator
Jeff Kulbak	....	production finance: Serendipity Point
Lorraine Lanoue	....	assistant: Mr. Lantos
George Lavorato	....	advisor: fencing
Nikkolas Lavorato	....	advisor: fencing
Robin Len	....	title designer: main titles, Gamma Studios
Brent MacLeod	....	operator
Ferenc Mazányi	....	medic
Tamás Mink	....	production assistant
Zoe Mylchreest	....	unit publicist: Zoe Mylchreest
Edit Nagy	....	production coordinator
Ágnes Naszvadi	....	accountant: Hungary
Jens Oberwetter	....	accountant: Germany
Michael Otto	....	titles and opticals: Blow Up Filmtechnik
E. Andrew Pecs	....	production accountant (as Andrew Pécs)
Gabriella Prekop	....	script consultant
Sepp Reidinger	....	laboratory contact: ARRI
Gottfried Reisecker	....	laboratory contact: ARRI
Andrew Rosen	....	production assistant: Alliance Atlantis
Leonard B. Rosman	....	legal services
Patrick Russ	....	assistant: Maurice Jarre
Dénes Sajgál	....	production assistant
Ervin Schwender	....	caterer
Marcus Schöfer	....	legal and business affairs: Kinowelt
Julie Simák	....	assistant unit publicist
Emily Smith	....	assistant: Mr. Hamori
Mária Soltész	....	cashier
Enikö Szakács	....	cashier
Árpádné Szalontay	....	video script
Csilla Szentirmai	....	production coordinator
Lásló Szepesi	....	fencing master
Imre Sárkózi	....	location manager
Carmen Tabanyi	....	assistant: Mr. Fiennes
Michael Tibes	....	technical assistant
Éva Tábori	....	assistant: Lajos Ovári, ISL Film
Emõke Vágási	....	assistant: Mr. Debin (as Emöke Vágási)
Stephanie Wagner	....	assistant: Danny Krausz, Dor Film
Gabriella Winkler	....	script supervisor
Andrea Wood	....	business and legal affairs: Alliance Atlantis
Mike Woroniuk	....	operator
Eszter Zakariás	....	assistant: Mr. Hurt
Batia Zareh	....	legal service
Mark Zsifkovits	....	operator (as Mark Zsifkovitz)
Martin Zwanzger	....	titles and opticals: Blow Up Filmtechnik
Krisztina Esztergályos	....	translator (uncredited)
William Hobbs	....	fight choreographer (uncredited)
Balázs Kovács	....	extras coordinator (uncredited)
Mark Musselman	....	business and legal affairs executive (uncredited)

Thanks
Josef Brandmaier	....	thanks: financial support [bbf]

Production Companies

• Alliance Atlantis Communications
• Bavaria Film and Television Fund (as Bavaria Film and TV Fund)
• Channel Four Films
• Dor Film Produktionsgesellschaft
• Eurimages
• Filmfonds Wien
• Hungarian Motion Picture Fund
• ISL Film
• InterCom
• Kinowelt Filmproduktion
• Movie Network, The (TMN)
• Serendipity Point Films
• TV2
• Téléfilm Canada
• Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF)

Distributors

• Cinemien (2003) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Paramount Classics (2000) (USA) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Communications (Canada)
• Alliance Atlantis Communications (UK)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (Switzerland)
• Aurum Producciones (Spain)
• Cecchi Gori Group (Italy)
• Espace Sarou
• Eurocine (Argentina)
• Eurocine (Chile)
• Eurocine (Paraguay)
• Eurocine (Uruguay)
• Filmes Castello Lopes (Portugal)
• Hollydan Works (2004) (Serbia and Montenegro) (DVD)
• Homescreen (2003) (Netherlands) (all media)
• InterCom (Hungary)
• Kinowelt Filmverleih (Germany)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (France)
• Myndform (Iceland)
• Nu Vision (Mexico)
• Star Movie Amusements

Special Effects

• Gamma Studios

Other Companies

• AON/Ruben-Winkler Entertainment Insurance  insurance
• Abbey Road Studios  choral music mixed at
• American Express International Inc. München  thanks
• Antikensammlung Vorderasiatisches Museum Berlin  thanks
• B&B Filmcatering  catering: Vienna
• Bavaria Film  casting rooms and screening facilities: Germany
• Bayerischer Banken-Fonds  funding
• Bloom Hergott Diemer Rosenthal Laviolette & Feldman  legal services
• Blow up Filmtechnik Karl Kresling GmbH  titles and opticals
• Body & Face  extras casting: Vienna
• Columbus Travel, Toronto  travel services
• Creagent Ltd.  archival footage
• De Lane Lea Sound Centre  adr mixing facility
• DeLuxe Laboratories  casting rooms and screening facility, Canada
• DeLuxe Laboratories  sound re-recording
• Deluxe Post-Production  post-production facilities
• Entertainment Partners Canada  payroll services (as Bulloch Entertainment Services)
• Film Finances  completion bond
• Frey & Co. Film Service, Budapest  film transportation
• Gamma Studios  title design: main titles
• Goldcrest Post Production London  adr mixing facilities
• Hungarian Film Institute  archival footage
• International Olympic Committee  Olympic Symbol licensed by
• Jesus Christus Kirche  music recorded at
• Lambert Hoffer  costume rental
• Law Offices of Leonard B. Rosman  legal services
• Ledl-Film-Service  film transportation
• Lyps Inc.  adr facility
• Metro Voices  choir
• Milan Records  soundtrack
• Movie Makers  star trailers
• Pergamon Museum Berlin  thanks
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services
• Tattersall Sound  sound post-production
• dB Post Production  adr mixing facilities

Also Known As:

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:

Ivan Sors:For the first time in my life, I walked down the street without feeling like I was in hiding. My great grandfather Emmanuel must have been the last Sonnenschein to feel like this. I knew the only way to find meaning in my life, my only chance in life...

Movie Connections:

References Citizen Kane (1941)

Soundtrack:

Minden kislány

A movie for the ages.

Can't believe this movie isn't more widely known. An epic drama that covers 5 generations of one family and ultimately delivers a powerful message about the true "recipe" for sunshine in life, and the importance of standing up for who and what you are.