The family name, Sonnenschein, translates as Sunshine, and its bearers at first prosper in turn-of-the-20th-century Budapest, selling an herbal tonic with that cheerful word emblazoned on the bottles. But they are Jews in an endemically anti-Semitic society. By the end of Istvan Szabo's three-hour epic, which traces the family's decline through three historical epochs--the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Nazism and communism--the irony of his title is almost unbearable. There is little sunshine in Sunshine, only degradation.
The three principal Sonnenschein heirs are all played by Ralph Fiennes. The first of them, Ignatz, changes his name to Sors, in order to advance his career...
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
