Sunshine (1999)
- Starring:
- Ralph Fiennes, Rosemary Harris, (more)
- Director(s):
- István Szabó
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R
- Format(s):
- DVD
| Digital SD
View All Versions to rent and buy
Movies Similar to Sunshine
Synopsis of Sunshine
The fortunes of a family of Hungarian Jews are followed over the course of nearly 150 years in this epic historical drama, with leading man Ralph Fiennes playing three different roles. The story begins in the late 18th century, as Aaron and Josefa Sonnenschein (the name means "Sunshine" in German) die in an explosion while making an herb tonic for sale in their village. Their son Emmanuel (David de Keyser), the only survivor of the tragedy, travels to Budapest, carrying the recipe for the medicine with him. He's able to parlay the formula into a successful business, and Emmanuel and his wife Rose (Miriam Margolyes) raise two sons, Ignatz (Ralph Fiennes), who becomes a successful lawyer, and hot-tempered Gustave (James Frain). The Sonnenscheins also make room in their home for Valerie (Jennifer Ehle), but Emmanuel and Rose become furious when Valerie becomes romantically involved with Ignatz. Eventually, Valerie and Ignatz raise two children, Istvan (Mark Strong) and Adam (Ralph Fiennes), and the family changes its name to Sors in hopes of avoiding the anti-Semitism sweeping Europe. In time, Adam goes so far as to convert to Catholicism, and he marries another Catholic, Hannah (Molly Parker). He soon begins an affair with his brother's wife, Greta (Rachel Weisz), who is unable to persuade Adam to leave as the Nazis rise to power. Adam and Hannah have only one son, Ivan, who is fated to watch his father die in a concentration camp; as Ivan grows to adulthood (now played by Ralph Fiennes), he swears revenge on the forces of fascism and embraces Communism. Ivan throws in his lot with Communist leader Andor Knorr (William Hurt), but a liaison with the wife of a party official (Deborah Kara Unger) leads Ivan to tragic consequences and a jail term. In time, Valarie and Gustave are reunited at the family's estate as the only two members of the Sonnenschein clan who survive to witness the Hungarian Revolution in 1956. Hungarian director Istvan Szabo co-wrote Sunshine's original screenplay in collaboration with American playwright Israel Horovitz. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 180 mins
Complete Cast of Sunshine
- Ralph Fiennes - Adam Sors
- Ralph Fiennes - Ivan Sors
- Rachel Weisz - Greta Sors
- Molly Parker - Hannah Wippler Sors
- James Frain - Young Gustave Sonnenschein/Sors
- Miriam Margolyes - Rose Sonnenschein
- Mark Strong - Istvan Sors
- Bill Paterson
- Hanns Zischler
- Frigyes Hollosy - Mr. Ledniczky
- Peter Halasz - Wild Duck
- Andras Fekete - Footman
- Lajos Kovács - Military Police in Camp
- Sandor Simo - Doctor #2
- Eszter Onodi - Secretary at Officer's Club
- Andrea Fullajtar - Agota Hofer
- Karoly Mecs - Defense Secretary
- Joachim Bissemeyer - Dr. Emil Vitak
- István Szliágyi - Hungler
- Tamás Raj - Rabbi at Wedding
- János Nemes - Adam at 17
- Zsolt László - Lugosy
- Tamás Keresztes - 1st boy
- Bálint Trunká - Istvan at 18
- Kati Sályom - Landlady in Vienna
- Lászl Gálfi - Rossa
- István Fonyá - Warehouse Guard
- Sándor Dánffy - Policeman
- Zoltan Seress - Tersikovsky
- Eva Igo - Policewoman
- Adam Rajhona - Caretaker
- Vilmos Kun - Rabbi Bettelheim
- Tamas Jordan - Sommer
- Mari Töröcsik - Kato
- Israel Horovitz - Poet
- Trevor Peacock - Comrade General Kope
- Ralph Fiennes - Ignatz Sonnenschein
- Rosemary Harris - Older Valerie Sors
- Jennifer Ehle - Young Valerie Sonnenschein/Sors
- Deborah Kara Unger - Carola
- John Neville - Older Gustave Sors
- David de Keyser - Emmanuel Sonnenschein
- William Hurt - Andor Knorr
- Rüdiger Vogler
- Peter Andorai - Anselmi
- Istvan Hirtling - Dr. Lanyi
- Zoltan Gera - Man at Synagogue
- Buddy Elias - Mr. Brenner
- Gabor Szabo - Priest at Conversion
- Ila Schütz - Mrs. Ledniczky
- Istvan Bubik - Saray
- Kathleen Gati - Josefa Sonnenschein
- Jacint Juhasz - Mr. Hackl
- Andras Stohl - Red Guard
- Lászl Szepesi - Olympic Judge
- János Nemes - Ivan at 16
- Ádám László - Emmanuel at 12
- Kotáany Bence - 2nd boy
- János Vészi - Doctor #3
- Péter Takács - Stefamp Sarto
- Támas Juranics - Commander of Lenin Boys
- Ica Gurnik - Woman in Hospital
- Tamás Fodor - Notary
- Dr. Zoltán Bognár - Doctor #1
- Janos Kulka - Molnar
- Katja Studt - Kato
- Attila Lote - Count Forgach
- Gyorgy Kezdy - Outraged Man
- Frederick Treves - Emperor
- Gábor Máté - Rosner
- Jozsef Fonyo - Prison Sergeant
- Balazs Hantos - Aaron Sonnenschein
- Director(s):
- István Szabó
- Writer(s):
- István Szabó, Israel Horovitz
- Producer(s):
- Andras Hamori, Robert Lantos
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R(Sexual Situations, Nudity, Violence, Adult Language)
- Categories:
- Independent Films
- 1999 - European Film Academy - Best Cinematography
- 1999 - European Film Academy - Best Actor
- 1999 - European Film Academy - Best European Screenwriter
- 1999 - European Film Academy - Best European Screenwriter
- 1999 - Genie Awards - Best Sound Editing
- 1999 - Genie Awards - Best Sound Editing
- 1999 - Genie Awards - Best Sound
- 1999 - Genie Awards - Best Sound Editing
- 1999 - Genie Awards - Best Sound
- 1999 - Genie Awards - Best Picture
- 1999 - Genie Awards - Best Sound Editing
- 1999 - Genie Awards - Best Sound
- 1999 - Genie Awards - Best Sound
- 1999 - Genie Awards - Best Sound Editing
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