Question 1

What real-life connection does the Sonnenschein family home in the film have to the director?

Accepted Answer

The courtyard and house used as the Sonnenschein family home is the actual house where director István Szabó grew up.

Question 2

Which actress played the younger version of a character whose older version was played by her real-life mother?

Accepted Answer

Jennifer Ehle plays Young Valerie, and she is the daughter of Rosemary Harris, who plays Older Valerie.

Question 3

What historical figures inspired the character of Adam Sonnenschein/Sors, played by Ralph Fiennes?

Accepted Answer

The character draws heavily upon the lives of Hungarian Jewish sabreurs Attila Petschauer and Endre Kabos, who did not survive World War II and the Holocaust.

Question 4

Which festivals and awards recognized 'Sunshine'?

Accepted Answer

It was featured at the Göteborg Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival, and won awards from the National Board of Review, European Film Awards, and Golden Globes.

Question 5

What is the central story of 'Sunshine'?

Accepted Answer

The film follows the fate of a Hungarian Jewish family throughout the 20th century.

Question 6

What real-life connection does the director have to the Sonnenschein family name?

Accepted Answer

Director István Szabó took the surname Sonnenschein from his own family.

Question 7

Which real Hungarian Jewish Olympic athletes inspired Ralph Fiennes' character?

Accepted Answer

The character Adam Sonnenschein/Sors draws upon the lives of Hungarian Jewish sabreurs Attila Petschauer and Endre Kabos, who won Olympic gold in 1936 but didn't survive World War II.

Question 8

What personal connection does the director have to the Sonnenschein family home location?

Accepted Answer

The courtyard and house used as the Sonnenschein family home is actually the house where director István Szabó grew up.

Question 9

What family connection exists between the actresses playing younger and older Valerie?

Accepted Answer

Jennifer Ehle, who plays Young Valerie, is the daughter of Rosemary Harris, who plays Older Valerie.

Question 10

Which major international film festivals recognized 'Sunshine'?

Accepted Answer

The film was featured at the Toronto International Film Festival (1999) and Göteborg Film Festival (2000), and won awards from the European Film Awards (1999), National Board of Review (2000), and Golden Globes (2001).

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Sunshine

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