Sunshine [DVD]

Strange but standard Ralph Fiennes fare

Will watch again.

Not to be confused with Danny Boyle's later, only foray into sci-fi, this 'Sunshine' is quite a rare movie; I've not been aware of it ever being on TV.Sunshine, though, features a very capable Ralph Fiennes, portraying three different men, in three different generations of the same Jewish family throughout the turmoils and futility of a warring Europe. This sounds a grand plan and mostly works, it being quite clear when a new era has been started, with Fiennes narrating a cross-over sort of stitching of stories, aided by newsreel to help us place it, time-wise.Probably Hungary's most successful director, István Szabó has used English here, whereas two of his previous films that follow many of the themes explored here that I have seen and own, are in Hungarian: the Oscar winning (Foreign Language) Mephisto and later Colonel Redl. These starred the Austrian actor Klaus Maria Brandauer in brilliant and memorable performances.However, especially when comparing to the earlier Brandauer films, this structure is its slight undoing. However hard Fiennes tries - and he is forced into some quite nasty, humiliating scenes, he is never on the levels attained by Brandauer. This time-frame structure also makes the three hour run-time slacken, the film lacks the urgency and tightness of the Hungarian films and whilst in English, with some familiar faces, it lacks the authenticity, too. However, at least having all the cast speaking the same 'region-free' English dialogue means it is not jarred by a sudden American one, which would spoil it, a bit.However, the story remains an interesting one and the mood and feel never less than authentically and superbly realised, whilst handsome use of locations such as Vienna, Paris, Berlin and Budapest make for a visual feast. I've now just seen the film for the third time.If you're expecting a nice, twee and gentle period drama, leave this one well alone - Szabó has always gone for realism - often graphically. Expect torture, nudity and very strong language - it all fits in and is never gratutous but this does mean it's not one for Sunday afternoon with grandma and the kids.I would also definitely recommend the two Hungarian Szabó's that I mention - Mephisto is easier to buy and is critically very admired. Colonel Redl I had to buy as a Korean import but that is a good transfer at a good price, if you can find an outlet.

The story set over a period of more than seventy years, it tells of successive generations of a Jewish family living in the Austrian-Hungarian empire, their families, their loves, their trial and tribulations. Within the backdrop of the First World War, the collapse of an empire, the struggles to survive during economic downturns, and the Nazi occupations during World War Two with the Holocaust at its height. The story ends with the eventual collapse of the Hungarian Uprising during the mid 1950s against Russian occupation.It is a film made on an epic scale with a very fine cast, Ralph Fiennes who portrays the son, grandson, and great grandson, Jennifer Ehle as the woman he loves, and Rosemary Harris who portrays her in old age. Also present are James Frain, Rachel Weisz, William Hurt and Miriam Margoyles, with John Neville and Deborah Kara Unger in supporting roles.I found it a very absorbing film to watch, as the characters struggle along with their lives, meeting the challenges as they arise.The film has a very good soundtrack, 5:1 which works well on a Home Cinema system; although the picture detail was lacking in some scenes, with rather grainy and dark scenes. However, this did not spoil my enjoyment, it seemed to add to the atmosphere somewhat.A worthy view for those who enjoy those type of films which convey human interest stories on an epic scale.

Sunshine is derived from Sonnenschein, the original name of a prosperous Jewish family living in Hungary and the film tells the story of the lives of several generations of the family over a period of about sixty years covering events from just before the turn of the century in 1900, the First World War which saw the destruction of the Austria-Hungary empire, the inter-war years which witnessed the rise of Fascism, the second world war and the Holocaust that was associated with it, the oppression of the Stalinist years following the war, the brief glimpse of freedom and democracy in the Hungarian revolution and its extinction by the tanks of the Soviet Army.The family is intensely loyal and patriotic, they fight for their country in both world wars and one of them becomes an Olympic fencing champion who represents Hungary and yet they suffer savage persecution at the hands of their fellow Hungarians because they are Jewish. The family struggle to find their place in society, often successfully but then times change and they have to cope with the tumultuous political, social and economic changes that take place in their country.The film brilliantly reconstructs the changing conditions in Hungary during different parts of the century and the performance of Ralph Fiennes at the centre of the film is truly remarkable. It is an absorbing story of how people have power and influence one minute and then get swept away by events over which they have no control. It also shows that the power individuals possess over their fellow citizens can be lost so easily, how patriotism can be easily subverted by politicians and that family loyalty is far more reliable and more enduring than loyalty towards any political system or country.

I haven't seen it in years, and I typically do not buy films. But this film is older and is usually overlooked, and I was tired of trying to find it on Prime or Netflix to watch for free.I'm not going to type up a review of the film, as you're free to watch the trailer. Ralph Fiennes plays grandfather, his son and grandson. The other actors are marvellous, but this movie covers roughly a century of time and Ralph Fiennes is cast in this story from start to finish. I've never seen anything like it.Give it a try.