Rachel Weisz Movie:

				Salesrank: 240101
		Our Price: $42.50
		MPAA Rating: R (Restricted) Media: DVD

Editorial Review:
Although Sunshine was made by a Hungarian, István Szabó, and deals with the history of Hungary as refracted through three generations of a Jewish-Hungarian family, you might be more inclined to give it three hours of your own life if you approach it as a David Lean movie in spirit. It is an English-language picture, and Maurice Jarre's music recalls his score for Doctor Zhivago. Szabó emulates Lean's intimate-epic style of merging the sweep of history with the crystalline detailing of individual lives, so that the shape of destiny is glimpsed through personal moments that feel at once evanescent and eternal. His lighting cameraman, Lajos Koltai, is one of the handful of cinematographers equal to capturing these moments in lapidary images--cinematic sunshine of the highest order.

"Sunshine" is a literal translation of Sonnenschein, the family name of the central characters. And "destiny" is one meaning of Sors, the name three Sonnenschein offspring choose for themselves to better assimilate as subjects of the Austro-Hungarian empire. Two are brothers, Ignatz (Ralph Fiennes) and Gustave (James Frain); their sister (by adoption) Valerie (Jennifer Ehle) is really their cousin. Both men love her, and Ignatz rocks the ultratraditional family by taking her as his wife. Nevertheless, the Sonnenscheins and the Sors enter upon the 20th century in loving solidarity, grateful to live under a liberal and tolerant regime. That's all swept away by the Great War, the rise of Nazism, and its replacement, the new fascism of Stalinist Communism. Valerie survives them all--though she's played later on by Rosemary Harris, Ehle's own mother. For his part--or parts--Ralph Fiennes goes on to embody two later generations of Sonnenschein/Sors men, the proudly patriotic Adam and his son, the rudderless Ivan, whose guilt over being a compliant prisoner at Auschwitz leads him to buy into the passionate puritanism of the Stalinist purges. Fiennes rises to the awesome challenge of creating three utterly distinct characters who all share the same congenital weaknesses and aching potential for greatness.

This is a film of considerable beauty and sometimes shattering power. Even three hours is not enough to do justice to all the characters, all the wrenching turnarounds of history and political allegiance and rectitude. But the film is never less than gripping, and as an essay on "family values," it's well-nigh definitive. --Richard T. Jameson

Sunshine [Region 2] Reviews:
Fascinating and underseen
2009-06-16 - The Bottom Line:

Sunshine isn't perfect, but its story of 100 years in Hungarian history told through the eyes of a grandfather, father, and son (all played by Ralph Fiennes) is consistently compelling and replete with moments that linger in my brain; if you're a 20th century history buff with 3 hours on your hand, you could hardly do better than renting this underrated gem from Istvan Szabo.

3.5/4

A 'Classic' for Our Time
2009-05-25 - This film, in my opinion, should be one that would be categorized as 'One of The Classics'. Everyone should watch this and learn about tolerance and it's relevance to life and to every past generation and all future generations.

This is absolutely riveting, heartbreaking and in many places 'joyful'.

Buy this, rent it, but you MUST watch it.

Ralph Fiennes is Brilliant.

Other recommendations that are over-looked are 'Oscar & Lucinda', 'Onegin', 'The End of The Affair'. Again, RUN out to buy, rent but you MUST watch.

I personally own them all and purchased each of them from Amazon.com.

Sonnenschein.....
2009-03-11 - Following three generations of a Jewish family in Hungary; Ralph Fiennes plays the central male role for all three generations.
One of the three male roles is based on the life of Hungarian Olympian Attila Petschauer. The other two characters portray the struggle of Jews living in an anti-Semitic society, their guilt of survival, and the development of political maturity following the Holocaust
Great movie that is worth watching over and over, despite all criticism. No wonder it won Genie award for best movie, best overall sound, European Film Awards for best actor, best Cinematographer and best screen writer.


Historical Drama at its Best
2009-03-01 - I watched this movie for the first time last night and was literally blown away by it. If you are a person that likes 20th century history, this is a must see movie. Although it is set in Hungary and focuses on a Jewish family, this movie easily transcends national and cultural messages. In this movie Hungary serves as a microcosim for the history of the 20th century world as a whole, as we see first the old fashioned monarchy, then the disillusionment of WWI, revolution, fascism, WWII, communisim- all the big name political and historical aspects of the 20th Century are encompassed by this film. While it deals with big issues it is also touchingly human as well, and the most interesting aspects of it are the side characters and side stories it creates. Its a serious movie, but if you are interested in history at all, its definitly a movie you should see!

Sunshine: The movie
2009-01-19 - One of the two or three best Nazi holocaust movies ever made, the story follows three generations of a jewish family in Austria. Growing anti-semitism and ostracism in the community gradually destroys their lives in spite of efforts to fit in including name change and conversion to Christianity. An epic film.