Sunshine

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The Sonnenschein family, particularly as seen through the person of Ralph Fiennes who plays three generations of Sonnenschein men, is witness and participant to the political changes and turmoil in Hungary from the Empire to the years following Stalin’s death. But this is not merely a historical family epic. Conflicts of identity are the true theme of the movie. Political identity, family identity, religious identity, personal identity, and sexual identity constantly collide. The Sonnenscheins must figure out how to resolve these conflicts in order to simply live. Sexual passions are prominent, as are rises ad falls from power – desire for power. But not power over others, power over one’s self – security. As Jews living in anti-Semitic times, they had to concern themselves with security and survival. Yet the family had once made A Taste of Sunshine, a tonic which was desired by their fellow townspeople and brought happiness and freedom to their steps. The question is: How do we reconcile living in joyful freedom with the necessity to fight for ourselves? Or is fighting for yourself a masked attempt to attain prominence, inevitably leading to inner betrayal? The Sonnenscheins are forced to supply us the answer.