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Sunshine Reviews

1999

60
from 2064 members

Director Istvan Szabo's SUNSHINE is an epic tale that follows the Hungarian Jewish family the Sonnenscheins through five generations spanning more than 100 years, from the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s, exploring the history, politics, world wars, social diaspora, and economic shifts that influence and change them during that .. Read more

Starring	Ralph Fiennes, Jennifer Ehle, Rachel Weisz, William Hurt
Director	István Szabó
Genres	Drama

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Critic's review of Sunshine
View all critics' reviews (6)
- A movie with an epic sweep, in which Fiennes plays three roles of successive heads of the family, men eager for success even if it means compromising religion and morality; unfortunately, the detailed narrative exposition tends to overwhelm any character
- 30694
- - Halliwell's Film Guide
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 15:41
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Most helpful member's review of Sunshine
View all members' reviews (38)
- - 22
  - 5
  Sunshine experience
  
  It was simply mesmerising. I have been to Eastern Europe since the 60s and asked natives why they didn't leave? They just didn't believe how dreadful ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 487328
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Brighteyes
  - 8 reviews
  - Welwyn Garden City
  - 23 Oct 2007 at 14:47
Most recent members' reviews of Sunshine
View all members' reviews (38)
- - 0
  - 0
  ______shine. Use your own "S" word.
  
  This movie has all the hallmarks of something so jading that people think it's deep. Well, it's not. It's predictable and poorly acted. I'm ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1083194
- - Onlyests
  - 47 reviews
  - 18 Jan 2012 at 19:22
- - 0
  - 0
  GCSE Editing required
  
  Brilliant in so many ways, acting, authenticity, script, filming. It is a long, enlightening and engrossing experience. Fabulous architecture - I must see ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1063169
- - allykat
  - 65 reviews
  - Weymouth
  - 15 Nov 2011 at 23:13
- - 0
  - 0
  Sunshine (1999)
  
  Ralph Fiennes was superb in this film which follows three generations of a Jewish family. Would highly recommend it.
  
  Report this review
- 1047276
- - a customer
  - London, England
  - 03 Oct 2011 at 13:58
- - 1
  - 0
  Absorbing and intelligent
  
  There were some lovely moments in this film. Jennifer Ehle and her mother stole every scene they were in.
  
  I never realised that Hungary had such a ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1029193
- - Zap
  - 17 reviews
  - Lincolnshire, England
  - 14 Aug 2011 at 22:20
- - 1
  - 0
  Ralph Fiennes in triplicate
  
  Or as missus says, buy one get three free !
  
  It is a bit of an epic, enjoyable but I advise you to watch it in hour long sections and then take a ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 924732
- - VFF
  - 102 reviews
  - London
  - 19 Sep 2010 at 00:03
- - 0
  - 0
  Admirable but flawed epic
  
  Despite its many failings, you cannot help admiring the achievement and fine acting from Fiennes. Very long, but it holds your attention most of the way. Other ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 891734
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Grabuck
  - 12 reviews
  - Hertford
  - 16 May 2010 at 13:25
- - 0
  - 1
  sunshine
  
  Good film but then I like Ralph Fiennes!
  
  Report this review
- 814957
- - diamonds
  - 34 reviews
  - Solihull
  - 26 Sep 2009 at 19:10
- - 0
  - 0
  too much gloom
  
  A long dreary tale all about an ambitious jewish family who need to compromise their religion to advance theirr social position in the Austro-Hungarian empire... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 786039
- - a customer
  - Glasgow, UK
  - 19 Jul 2009 at 06:09
- - 0
  - 0
  Remarkable saga
  
  It is difficult to improve on the Radio Times review of this remarkable film. We have Hungarian friends, both Jewish victims of the Nazis, and non-Jewish ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 761619
- - a customer
  - Richmond,Surrey,UK
  - 23 May 2009 at 15:50
- - 0
  - 0
  Sunshine
  
  A watchable, enjoyable drama with a good cast. It has the feel of a TV mini series rather than a feature length film. If you're a Ralph Fiennes fan, then ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 746439
- - a customer
  - London
  - 22 Apr 2009 at 16:44
View all members' reviews (38)

- - 22
  - 5
  Sunshine experience
  
  It was simply mesmerising. I have been to Eastern Europe since the 60s and asked natives why they didn't leave? They just didn't believe how dreadful ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 487328
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Brighteyes
  - 8 reviews
  - Welwyn Garden City
  - 23 Oct 2007 at 14:47
- - 9
  - 2
  Hungarian 20th century Heimat
  
  Sunshine is a well composed and well photographed family story,embracing the first half of the last century.It is the story of a Hungarian jewish family,whose ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 200387
- - Attila
  - Budapest , Hungary
  - 30 Jan 2006 at 16:36
- - 7
  - 1
  Don't bother if you're deaf
  
  because there aren't any subtitles
  
  Report this review
- 234266
- - a customer
  - chester
  - 19 Apr 2006 at 11:53
- - 6
  - 1
  gripping
  
  Beautifully made, gripping film. We said we'll just watch the first hour, as it was already getting late... but no, couldn't turn dvd off. Very thought ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 115946
- - DutchieToo
  - 18 reviews
  - Berwick u Tweed
  - 20 Jun 2005 at 10:09
- - 4
  - 3
  moving and superbly acted
  
  Ralph Fiennes was superb in this film which follows three generations of a Jewish family. Would highly recommend it.
  
  Report this review
- 55799
- - a customer
  - London,England
  - 26 Nov 2004 at 12:05
- - 2
  - 0
  Can't Say
  
  As a person with only partial hearing I need sub-titles, especially for a film like this which relies on the dialogue. I turned off after the first 20 mins or ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 471347
- - AReviewer
  - 40 reviews
  - Leicester
  - 02 Sep 2007 at 18:49
- - 1
  - 0
  A great film
  
  This film, despite being 3 hours long, didn't provoke even the slightest yawn throughout. A beautiful story, well acted.
  
  Report this review
- 258969
- - a customer
  - London, England
  - 28 Jun 2006 at 15:18
- - 1
  - 0
  Ralph Fiennes in triplicate
  
  Or as missus says, buy one get three free !
  
  It is a bit of an epic, enjoyable but I advise you to watch it in hour long sections and then take a ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 924732
- - VFF
  - 102 reviews
  - London
  - 19 Sep 2010 at 00:03
- - 1
  - 0
  Absorbing and intelligent
  
  There were some lovely moments in this film. Jennifer Ehle and her mother stole every scene they were in.
  
  I never realised that Hungary had such a ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1029193
- - Zap
  - 17 reviews
  - Lincolnshire, England
  - 14 Aug 2011 at 22:20
- - 0
  - 0
  Hungarian 20th century Heimat
  
  Sunshine is a well composed and well photographed family story,embracing the first half of the last century.It is the story of a Hungarian jewish family,whose ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 200388
- - Attila
  - Budapest , Hungary
  - 30 Jan 2006 at 16:38

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Critics' reviews
- A movie with an epic sweep, in which Fiennes plays three roles of successive heads of the family, men eager for success even if it means compromising religion and morality; unfortunately, the detailed narrative exposition tends to overwhelm any character
- 30694
- - Halliwell's Film Guide
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 15:41
- "...[The film] follows in the footsteps of movies like Visconti's LEOPARD and Bertolucci's 1900, epics that aspired to match the sprawl and capaciousness of classic novels..."
- 8559
- - New York Times
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:58
- "...It is a superb period re-creation and boasts a formidable international cast....Absorbing and illuminating in regard to the eras it spans..."
- 8558
- - Los Angeles Times
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:58
- "...SUNSHINE opens with thunder: an impressively staged explosion that says we just dare you to snooze through this three-hour story..."
- 8560
- - USA Today
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:58
- SzabÃ's personal history of modern Hungary spans 150 years and has Fiennes incarnate three generations of the... read more on Time Out
- 43863
- - Time Out
  - 04 Nov 2008 at 00:14
- "...Never less than engrossing....Ehle glows..." -- Rating: B+
- 8557
- - Entertainment Weekly
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:58

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Buy from Amazon.co.uk

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- Sunshine
  
  Director Istvan Szabo's SUNSHINE is an epic tale that follows the Hungarian Jewish family the Sonnenscheins through five generations spanning more than 100 years, from the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s, exploring the history, politics, world wars, social diaspora, and economic shifts that influence ...