Sunshine (1999 film)

Sunshine is a 1999 historical film written by Israel Horovitz and István Szabó , directed and produced by István Szabó . It follows three generations of a Jewish family (originally called Sonnenschein, a name that literally means "sunshine" in German , but later changed to Sors, meaning "fate" in Hungarian ) during the changes in Hungary from the beginning of the 20th century to the period after the 1956 Hungarian Revolution . The central male protagonist of all three generations is portrayed by Ralph Fiennes . The film also stars the real-life mother and daughter team of Rosemary Harris and Jennifer Ehle as well as Rachel Weisz and John Neville . Although fictional, the film weaves events drawn from several real sources into the story. The Sunshine family's liquor business was based on the Zwack family's liquor brand Unicum . One of Fiennes's three roles is based at least partly on Hungarian Olympian Attila Petschauer , but also includes allusions to the early life of Miksa Fenyő and other famous Hungarians of Jewish origin who suffered from anti-Semitism and the persecution of Jews in World War II Hungary. Another role in the film which is similar to that of a historic person is the character Andor Knorr played by William Hurt which closely resembles the latter part of the life of László Rajk . The film was an international co-production among companies from Germany , Austria , Hungary and Canada .

Sunshine is a 1999 historical drama film directed by István Szabó and written by Israel Horovitz and Szabó. It follows five generations of a Hungarian Jewish family, originally named Sonnenschein ( ), later changed to Sors ( ), during changes in Hungary , focusing mostly on the three generations from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century. The family story traverses the creation of the Austro-Hungarian Empire through to the period after the 1956 Revolution , while the characters are forced to surrender much of their identity and endure family conflict. The central male protagonist of all three generations is portrayed by Ralph Fiennes . The film's stars include Rachel Weisz and John Neville , with the real-life daughter and mother team of Jennifer Ehle and Rosemary Harris playing the same character across a six-decade storyline. The film was an international co-production among companies from Germany , Austria , Hungary , and Canada . It won three European Film Awards , including Best Actor for Fiennes, and three Canadian Genie Awards , including Best Motion Picture .

1999 film by István Szabó Sunshine is a 1999 historical drama film directed by István Szabó and written by Israel Horovitz and Szabó. It follows five generations of a Hungarian Jewish family, originally named Sonnenschein ( ), later changed to Sors ( ), during changes in Hungary , focusing mostly on the three generations from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century. The family story traverses the creation of the Austro-Hungarian Empire through to the period after the 1956 Revolution , while the characters are forced to surrender much of their identity and endure family conflict. The central male protagonist of all three generations is portrayed by Ralph Fiennes . The film's stars include Rachel Weisz and John Neville , with the real-life daughter and mother team of Jennifer Ehle and Rosemary Harris playing the same character across a six-decade storyline. The film was an international co-production among companies from Germany , Austria , Hungary , and Canada . It won three European Film Awards , including Best Actor for Fiennes, and three Canadian Genie Awards , including Best Motion Picture .

1999 film by István Szabó Sunshine is a 1999 epic historical drama film directed by István Szabó and written by Israel Horovitz and Szabó. It follows five generations of a Hungarian Jewish family, originally named Sonnenschein ( German : "sunshine" ), later changed to Sors ( Hungarian : "fate" ), during changes in Hungary , focusing mostly on the three generations from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century. The family story traverses the creation of the Austro-Hungarian Empire through to the period after the 1956 Revolution , while the characters are forced to surrender much of their identity and endure family conflict. The central male protagonist of all three generations is portrayed by Ralph Fiennes . The film's stars include Rachel Weisz and John Neville , with the real-life daughter and mother team of Jennifer Ehle and Rosemary Harris playing the same character across a six-decade storyline. The film was an international co-production among companies from Germany , Austria , Hungary , and Canada . It won three European Film Awards , including Best Actor for Fiennes, and three Canadian Genie Awards , including Best Motion Picture .