Saturday, July 11, 2009

Sunshine


I left a comment over on Yoli's fencing video post about the fabulous
fencing scene done by Ralph Fiennes in the movie Sunshine, 1999.
Then Marc came over and requested a film review of this
masterpiece. I love-love this movie, so how could I possibly refuse?
.
The film is basically about three generations of the Sonnenscheins,
(translates sunshine) a Jewish family in Budapest during the
political upheaval in Hungary. The brilliant Ralph Fiennes, who I
adore, by the way, amazingly portrays three men from different
generations of the family. Ignatz, an attorney, at the turn of the
century, who attempts to blend in with society; his son, Adam, an
Olympic gold medalist in fencing, who is blind to fascism; and
Adam's son, Ivan, a political activist who joins the Communist party.
.
Also, rounding out the great cast is James Frain, the lovely Jennifer
Ehle, Rachel Weisz (need I say more?), the delightful Rosemary
Harris and William Hurt, who I fell totally in love with, after seeing
Children of a Lesser God.
.
Masterfully directed by Istvan Szabo, this film has the sweeping
majestic feel of a David Lean epic. Like Lean, he weaves the story of
intimate family details into a backdrop of historic fact. The lighting
and attention to detail are stunning. Maurice Jarre's haunting music
brings to mind his score for Doctor Zhivago. This wonderful combo
equals magic.
.
It is a powerful and breathtakingly gorgeous movie. If you like
history, as well as serious cinematography, you are going to love this
film. Reserve a whole evening for this one. Just like a Lean epic, it's
three hours in length, so put on the popcorn and kick off the flip flops!
.

46 comments:

  1. Thank you for reminding me to watch this movie - I have waited far too long to do so!

    ReplyDelete
  2. thanks, i love Ralph Fiennes. i will rent this straight away.
    it sounds from what you have written, that this is right up my ally.

    there are certain actors, that if they are in the movie...i know i will like it.
    Alan Rickman is another one.

    xx

    ReplyDelete
  3. Renee, I adore Alan Rickman...OMG that voice!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. hello willow, thanks for this excellent review that has inspired me to ask she-who-holds-the-blockbuster-card to rent this for me the next time she wings by that shop. i really love ralph fiennes' acting and i am a huge fan of david lean so anything that connects to his style, ability or whatever is going to be seen by me!! have a peaceful day. steven

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hello Willow,

    This does look wonderful and I've never heard of it(!) despite it being ten years old.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I've been wanting to see this film so now I must do something about it. Thanks Willow.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I've never seen this one! And I'm a huge Ralph Fiennes fan, so there you have it. We'll have to check this out. Sounds intriguing.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Willow I've yet to see this one and I should. Both my parents were stuck in West Germany at the time of the attempted break-away of Hungary and Czechoslovakia( '64 or '65 ). Major political tension, then. Although this film seems to cover quite bit more. I will seek it out!

    ReplyDelete
  9. A lovely rewiew, thanks Willow.

    ReplyDelete
  10. A great review Willow (as ever). How do you find the time to watch such wonderful movies? Tell me your secret.
    I enjoyed Children of a Lesser God and saw the stage version with Trevor Eve playing the lead....
    As for Alan Rickman - what's so special about him?......grinning, (Have you seen him in Truly, Madly, Deeply with the equally wonderful Juliet Stevenson?)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Michael, I didn't know there was an Alan Rickman film I hadn't seen! I just looked up Truly, Madly, Deeply...Anthony Minghella? Okay, it's now first on my Netflix queue.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wonder if I could pick it up at the Video Store today while running errands! Sounds like a weekend film I would enjoy!

    Ummmmm, have you posted this raspberry buttermilk cake recipe you have in the oven? Sounds wonderful!! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Oh, darn. Netflix doesn't have Truly, Madly, Deeply. Gotta check the library...

    ReplyDelete
  14. Yes, Jill...just type it into the search window at the top of my blog. You will love it. Simple and devine!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I really enjoyed this movie as well. In addition to all of the sterling qualities that you mention -- Ralph Fiennes, chief among them -- it gives a good sense of the many historical upheavals suffered in the old Austro-Hungarian empire during the last century.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Having read through the comments: Truly, Madly, Deeply is another good one!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Putting this on Husband's NetFlix queue

    ReplyDelete
  18. Ralph Fiennes...SIGH...I'll have to check this one out!

    I just sold a chamber pot at the shop yesterday, the scene with the three little boys puts a whole new light on it(or bottom)...ha!

    ReplyDelete
  19. sounds wonderful. will have to see if i can get a copy...pop the popcorn and settle in with T on the couch! have a great weekend willow!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Why have I not even heard of this film? I love Ralph (as an actor, mind :-D) and Satzbo is one of my favourite directors. I will add it on to my lovefilms list.

    By the way, I saw both 'An Angel at my Table' (again) and 'Nowhere in Africa' and loved them both. reviews to follow soon.

    Greetings from London.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Jennifer Ehle was also so brilliant in "Possession". The producer is the great Canadian, Robert Lantos. Every so often, people get together and make a perfect film, with which I can find no fault. Your review makes me want to see it again.

    ReplyDelete
  22. wow! headed for netflix - never saw it - thanks :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. i HAVE to have this movie - so am hurrying over to amazon right now! but couldn't wait to say how much i have loved ralph fiennes FOREVER - way before he was really known well - and he is one of those actors who, like renee finberg mentions, makes any movie one that i will love - oh, and i love alan rickman, too! and up there with them is liam neeson! be still my heart! well, girls and boys, i'm off to the amazon forest - have a wonderful day! jenean

    ReplyDelete
  24. It is a stunning film and I'll tell you something - I've met RF quite a few times. I used to work for an accountancy practice that handled celeb clients - the list of their clients was most of the hot men around at the time (Alan Rickman, Rufus Sewell, Clive Owen, Kenneth Branagh, Hug hGrant - I'll stop now)

    ReplyDelete
  25. I remember when this first came out and I remember saying I would rent it and then ooops gone from my head....thank you for this wonderful reminder, I will go to the rental store that has a great inventory or the library!

    ReplyDelete
  26. I don't know how I missed this film. Thanks for the review. Oh those English actors! The subtleties in their performances are so admirable. A flickering expression in the eye, a small furrow of the brow -- so expressive. Can't wait to get a hold of this gem to watch it!

    ReplyDelete
  27. You have a way with films. It is hard to imagine anything different. This sounds good to me even.

    Thanks for your visit.

    I had not seen anybody use the word "chiaroscuro" except myself, in ages and then there you used it on my blog. Yep. I like that kind of thing. I did it on all of my lunar landing oils.

    You might be interested in seeing my post tomorrow "Finding a Woman."

    ReplyDelete
  28. Rachel Weisz had the most gracious Academy Award acceptance speech I've ever heard. It should be a model for all other recipients.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Willow, believe it or not, I haven't seen this movie! The cast is fantastic! I have to look for the DVD now!

    ReplyDelete
  30. I love him, too, and yet have never seen this movie. Thank you for the review. I'm adding it to my queue right now. :)

    ReplyDelete
  31. Willow, Just returned from a wondrous visit with my new grandson, Elliot! Love Ralph Fiennes - thank you, thank you, thank you, for inspiring me to place it on the queue!

    ReplyDelete
  32. I love this movie, Willow! I love Fiennes! Now, I'm off to read that fencing post. I used to play fencing in college (and even wrote a post about it) and still have a passion for the sport. The new place we moved to is very close to a fencing academy, and my desire to spar is coming back :)

    ReplyDelete
  33. Sounds like I need to see if this is available. Thanks, Willow!!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Fiennes is so good. I loved him in Quiz show. sounds like a great movie.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Thank you WIllow - I have never watched this film so I am in for a treat by the sounds of your review. I just watched Ryan's daughter again (after your post) - a magnificent film, I just loved it. xv

    ReplyDelete
  36. Oh, thanks. I haven't seen this but will look out for it.

    ReplyDelete
  37. How on earth did I miss a Fiennes movie, I'll never know but thank you, thank you, thank you for telling me about Sunshine which will immediately be put on my Blockbuster list... at the top!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Willow, I had forgotten about this movie. A friend and I saw it when it came out. That was when Birmingham had an art house movie theater...much to my disappointment it closed a few years later. I'll have to Netflix this one and see it again.

    ReplyDelete
  39. French Fancy, What??!! You have actually met THE Ralph Fiennes?! Okay. I am totally green...TOTALLY green with envy.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Got your comment on the blog. About my nursing babies. LOL

    Actually I did nurse from my mom and sometimes when she was sick, down in the dumps or had no milk I would nurse from a wet nurse. Those were the days when food was free.

    ReplyDelete
  41. How did I miss this movie???
    Adore fencing AND Ralph.
    Mostly -
    I trust your film selections!

    ReplyDelete
  42. How did I miss this movie???
    Adore fencing AND Ralph.
    Mostly -
    I trust your film selections!

    ReplyDelete
  43. I must re-watch this film..as a Big Fan of Ralph Fiennes (you, me) I highly recommend that you try to get ahold of a short biographical film put out (1999) by and narrated by Fiennes. It's about his mother, Jennifer Lash, a well known artist and writer,(Blood Ties).Beautiful tribute, beautiful family.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Thanks, Willow, for reminding me about this movie.

    ReplyDelete
  45. You make it sounds so amazing. I guess I have to add it to my netflix, because after reading that post I am hungry for an amazing movie!!!

    ReplyDelete

Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.
― O. Henry (and me)