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 | Austro Hungarian | Hungary | Power | 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:

The character of Adam Sonnenschein/Sors draws heavily upon the life and death of two great Hungarian Jewish sabreurs, 'Attila Petschauer' and Endre Kabos (winner of the Olympic Gold in Sabre at the 1936 Berlin Games). Tragically, neither survived World War II and the Holocaust.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When fencing for the gold medal, Adam Sors' opponent has his foot way across the line at the start. This would never be allowed at the Olympics.

Quotes:

Ignatz Sonnenschein: You are entering a new world where you will certainly be successful because you have knowledge. Study has always been our religious duty as jews. Our exclusion from society has given us an ability to adapt to others and to sense connections between things that seem diverse...

Movie Connections:

References Citizen Kane (1941)

Soundtrack:

Kaiser Waltz

This epic crowns the legendary career of Istvan Szabo

SUNSHINE, the latest epic from arguably Central Europe's greatest living director of his generation, crowns a distinguished career. Many details of his earlier work, including the Sonnenschein name for the Jewish family (from the name of the Hungarian Imperial Jewish Doctor in COLONEL REDL) are evident; particularly themes and period touches from his brilliant trilogy, MEPHISTO, COLONEL REDL, HANUSSEN). OK. So Klaus Maria is missing. He is really unique. But who better than the brilliant Ralph Fiennes (awarded the 1999 European Best Actor "Oscar" for this performance last December)as the lead "Sunshine" patriarch? Make that three "Sunshine/Sors/Sonnenschein" patriarchs, all with their own nuances, all very in tune with his period, and character. And who better to play the "Sunshine" matriarch than the recent Tony winner Jennifer Ehle, as the younger Matriarch, followed by her own (obviously look alike) mother, the great Rosemary Harris, as her older self? The film is full of masterful strokes like these. After an Oscar-qualifying run in late December, the film was just re-released (I saw it in New York ten days ago), and will be expanding throughout America soon. Don't miss this masterpiece on the big screen, where it can really be appreciated.