FemaleFirst.co.uk: DVD: Sunshine [DVD] [2000]

Sunshine [DVD] [2000]
enlarge	Director: István Szabó Actors: Ralph Fiennes, Rosemary Harris, Rachel Weisz, Jennifer Ehle, Deborah Kara Unger Studio: Momentum Pictures Category: DVD List Price: ~~£19.99~~ Buy New: £3.62 as of 21/11/2009 18:10 GMT details You Save: £16.37 (82%) New (13) Used (1) from £3.00 Seller: selectcheaper Rating: 14 reviews Sales Rank: 6611 Format: Anamorphic, PAL, Widescreen Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language) Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over Region: 2 Discs: 1 Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Number Of Discs: 1 Running Time: 173 Minutes Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2 Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6 EAN: 5060021171122 ASIN: B000056IFN Theatrical Release Date: January 27, 2000 Release Date: February 19, 2001 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days


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Editorial Reviews: Amazon.co.uk Review This sprawling family saga follows a Hungarian-Jewish family across three generations, and stars Ralph Fiennes as the father, the son, and the grandson in three distinctly different roles. As a Europudding vehicle for Fiennes and a top-drawer cast (including Jennifer Ehle, Rachel Weisz, Deborah Unger, Miriam Margolyes and William Hurt), ISunshine/I delivers on all fronts: there's glossy melodrama, high-moral seriousness as history wears the family down like the wind, and leitmotifs--the family elixir called "Sunshine" that founds their fortune, semi-incestuous adulterous liaisons, photographs and faces--that thread the epic three-hour narrative together. Fiennes begins as a stiff Budapest lawyer-cum-officer and judge during the First World War, torn when anti-Semitism raises its head. His son is a champion fencer who denounces the family faith to attain advancement but ends up in the Nazi-run labour camps all the same. The last in the line, a policeman this time, must navigate the Stalinist forces of repression and endures through the 1956 uprising to take back the family name and faith. And yet as a film by director István Szabó (IColonel Redl/I, IMephisto/I), it's a bit of a soggy disappointment lacking the bile and spit and visual inventiveness that makes the best of his other works so outstanding. Perhaps the fact that Szabó is directing an all-English speaking cast is the problem, leaving the film feeling strangely old-fashioned and paradoxically lacking a sense of place (despite much of it being filmed in Hungary itself). Although there are some charged emotional beats throughout, pretty costumes, and lots of entertainingly tasteful bonking sequences, the fencing sequences in particular become tooth-pullingly tedious and the whole thing seems to drag, especially as it takes itself so seriously. --ILeslie Felperin/I

Customer Reviews: Showing reviews 1-5 of 14 1 2 3 Next » A brilliant, touching movie! May 8, 2006 Stella Balogh (Brussels, Belgium) 25 out of 25 found this review helpful This movie is simply brilliant! br / br /It tells the story of a Hungarian Jewish family through 3 generations. We get to see the history of the 20th century, the 2nd world war, how it aaffected Hungary through a family's life. And though everything changes around the Sonnenschein (later Sors) family: regimes, friends, people they can trust, etc... there is still a constancy: the bloodline, the relations, the family bond, the love. br / br /It is such a moving an overwhelming movie, simply brilliant. br / br /The cast is excellent! From Jennifer Ehle to Rachel Weisz, everybody is perfect! And for Ralph Fiennes who plays the 3 main characters (the grandfather, the father and the son), I can't find the words. He plays them so masterfully, that despite the physical ressemblance, you can see that they are 3 totally different persons. br / br /Yes, of course it is dark because it deals with deportation, Jewish camps, but it is that kind of film that after seeing it, you will be thinking about it for days. I have first seen it when I was 14, and ever since it has been one of my favorite movies, not only because the acting is excellent, or the photography breathtaking, but because it gives a whole round story with such emotional depth and moral lessons that the catharsis is guaranteed. br / br /A wonderful movie, you absolutely have to check out if you haven't seen it yet! br / amazingly insightful February 16, 2001 7 out of 7 found this review helpful I've seen Ralph is some pretty damm good films ( and some pretty terrible ones i.e Wuthering Heights), but this one is him at his best. Fans of his work or just his looks should get this one. pHowever, I am belittling this movie by just talking about Ralph Fiennes. It is stunning to look at; transporting you to a world of both beauty and cruelty. The director captures the sense of turmoil within a nation ( the Austro-hunguarian empire ) and the conflict that the political instability presents to a wealthly Jewish family. The film's almost encyclopeadic approach to the three regimes within the time frame echoes a simple, yet valuable message to the three generations of that family ( who are all played by Fiennes ) and that it is to be true to ones self, even in times of adversty. Sunshine to conclude is a breathing taking and breathe stopping film that's relevant today as it was then. The best film of the last decade September 22, 2002 11 out of 12 found this review helpful Sunshine is the warmest cinema exeperience for me in the last decade, with fantastic taste in chosing expressiv locations, presenting wonderful actors - I cannot overemphasize my enthusiasm for this movie. The best cinematographers keep this DVD as a secret Bible in their safes at home. Dont`t hesistate to watch it. This a bona-fide epic movie which cuts no corners. February 22, 2001 19 out of 22 found this review helpful Sunshine is a very rare movie in this day and age. Most films passing themselves off as epic are little more than overblown regular movies with a heap of gloss (Gladiator for example),but Sunshine is the real deal,a genuine sprawling epic which follows a Hungarian Jewish family through four generations.pRalph Fiennes is the strong thread that binds the different periods together,playing the narrator,his father and his Grandfather in each segment of the film. Fiennes puts in a superbly crafted performance throughout the film and he convinces as different men from different generations but all of the same blood. Few actors can hold their own in vast roles such as this,particularly when it means holding the film together.pAs an insight into the trauma that many europeans faced (especially Jewish europeans)as their countries are pushed and pulled betwwen fascist and communist regimes the film is a wonderful historical aid,and if you have any interest in learning of the astounding history of the Hungarian people (which mirrors much of central europe)then this film will educate you while keeping you thoroughly caught up in the story.pFrom prosperity to persecution the film remains true to life,exploring all emotions,from success to despair,love and failure,anger and frustration. The scenes from the concentration camps are as harrowing and honest as any ever likely to be committed to film.pTechnically speaking the film cannot be faulted,the cinemtography is impeccable and the direction controlled and unflinching,even if the director risks his characters losing sympathy,this is a refreshingly honest and unashamedly beautiful film to look at.pA great disc to show off your DVD player as the production values are high,with some wonderful lighting,mixtures of environments (snow,architecture,the wonderful Hungarian landscape) and a rich,well produced soundtrack. This is a fantastic,genuine epic to addd to your collection. Best European film of the year. January 2, 2001 3 out of 3 found this review helpful This amazing story tells the life of a Hungarian Jewish family's 4 generations through the region's storms of the twentieth century's history. Excellent screenplay, excellent filming, excellent actors and excellent story which picks out the most caracteristic moments of each period. Showing reviews 1-5 of 14 1 2 3 Next »

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