7.9/10
5,826
53 user 38 critic

Gloomy Sunday (1999)

Gloomy Sunday - Ein Lied von Liebe und Tod (original title)
Follows three men who are in love with a most beautiful waitress: An intellectual restaurant owner, a mysterious musician and an erratic businessman; taking place during the WWII.

Director:

Writers:

(screenplay), (screenplay) | 1 more credit »

On Disc

at Amazon

7 wins & 5 nominations. See more awards »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
Ilona
Joachim Król ...
László
...
Hans Wieck
...
András
András Bálint ...
Ilonas Sohn
Géza Boros ...
Geigenspieler
...
Herr Wieck
Ilse Zielstorff ...
Frau Wieck
Ferenc Bács ...
Botschafter
Júlia Zsolnai ...
Frau des Botschafters
Áron Sipos ...
Arzt (as Aron Sipos)
Ernst Kahl ...
Zeichner Torresz
Jörg Gillner ...
Chefkoch István
Denis Moschitto ...
Lehrling Inas
István Mikó ...
Kartoffelhändler
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Storyline

Budapest in the thirties. The restaurant owner Laszlo hires the pianist András to play in his restaurant. Both men fall in love with the beautiful waitress Ilona who inspires András to his only composition. His song of Gloomy Sunday is, at first, loved and then feared, for its melancholic melody triggers off a chain of suicides. The fragile balance of the erotic ménage à trois is sent off kilter when the German Hans goes and falls in love with Ilona as well. Written by anonymous

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Genres:

Romance | Drama

Certificate:

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Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

|

Language:

| |

Release Date:

21 October 1999 (Germany)  »

Also Known As:

Gloomy Sunday  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$7,102 (USA) (20 June 2003)

Gross:

$223,827 (USA) (21 November 2003)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

|

Sound Mix:

Color:

(archive footage)|

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The film has been running daily at the Academy Arts Centre Theatre in Christchurch, New Zealand since 2001 - and you still have book in advance because it is sold out (it's shown in a small 11-seat theatre). See more »

Goofs

When the trio goes to a movie theater, they watch a newsreel that declares that the song "Gloomy Sunday" "drove 157 people in Hungary to suicide in the past eight weeks." We don't know whether that statement ever actually appeared in a German newsreel during the war. In any event, there is no evidence that the song ever actually drove more than a handful of people--if any--to suicide. See more »

Quotes

László: Everyone would like it all: something for the body, something for the soul. Something that fills you up, something that makes you hungry.
See more »

Soundtracks

Schöner Gigolo, Armer Gigolo
Music by Leonello Casucci
Lyrics by Julius Brammer
BMG UFA Musikverlag, München
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User Reviews

 
a fascinating moral parable
28 August 2006 | by (South Africa) – See all my reviews

This beautiful and moving film provides via a sensitively handled love affair an intriguingly subtle morality play.

The owner of a restaurant saves the life of a German who is trying to commit suicide after being turned down - by the restaurateur's mistress.

This character goes on to achieve power as a Nazi. He uses his power to save 1000 Jews from the concentration camps, and makes a fortune for himself in the process.

He does good simply to benefit himself. Was it right to save his life? Had he died, so many other lives would not have been saved. His life is interlinked with the lives and deaths of other people.

It would be unfair to elaborate further on this theme, as it would give away the plot.

The film also returns to the idea of life and death with its theme of suicide; suicide being the ultimate way to take control of your own life.

With all of these thoughts, it is still an entertaining and uplifting movie, with the most exquisite theme. Life and death are united in the English lyrics given at the end, which combine gloom and hope in the most extraordinary fashion.

A fair bit of philosophy built into a simple and tastefully done move makes for good entertainment.


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Message Boards

Recent Posts
Music/song question thecrux-1
Who was the father of Ilona'a child erosenbaum-1
Original song!? kazzpuhr86
who is the father? coatguy
Why?! jamipen
Lyrics from the actual song in the movie, help! marlenrf
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