Plot: What’s it about?
This film follows a Jewish family that lives in Hungary, through three generations of life and evolution. They started with little resources, but as time passed and hard work began to pay off, they rose to more wealth and power than ever imagined. The eldest man has become a judge with a good reputation and a liberal amount of power, but soon finds himself in a fragile position, as his government has sanctioned persecution against Jewish people. The world has started to change around him and his family, but he holds strong and continues to be the stable base for those around him, as always. His son tries to avoid the persecution by converting to the Christian religion, as he has Olympic level fencing talents, but even he cannot escape the events around him forever. Also featured is the grandson, who reflects upon the events of the past and tries to come to grips with what is truly important. I know this synopsis seems weak, but Sunshine tells a broad story and as such, it is hard to summarize it in a single paragraph.
This one took a while to reach home video, but I am very pleased to now own Sunshine on our favorite format. I am very displeased with the treatment given to the film, but this is a Paramount release, so I should have known. Although the film has taken two years to show up on home video, Paramount unleashes an overpriced, bare bones disc, not even a trailer to be seen. An import edition features some interviews and a featurette, but no such luck for us region 1 folks, thanks a lot Paramount, thanks indeed. But more on the disc itself later on, let’s discuss the terrific picture that is Sunshine. The film runs three hours in length, but I was never bored and I think the time is used very well, never wasted in the least. Ralph Fiennes is superb here, as is his supporting cast that includes Rachel Weisz, Rosemary Harris, William Hurt, Molly Parker, and others. I can see how the extended running time and sometimes slower pace might scare off some folks, anyone with a decent attention span should give this a look, it more than deserves it. I recommend this release, but as a rental, thanks to Paramount’s high price and lack of value elements.
The main star of Sunshine is Ralph Fiennes, who takes on three different roles within the film, but never seems to falter much. Fiennes has always been known for his skills, but in this case, he triples his presence and remains firm in performance, very impressive indeed. I expected Fiennes to show some weak points inside at least one character, but he manages to bring each to life well, with unique traits and common ones, which is how the roles seem written to be played. I’ve seen actors take on multiple roles in more comedic films, but it is pretty rare in dramas, which makes the work of Fiennes even more substantial. You can also see Fiennes in such films as The English Patient, Onegin, Schindler’s List, The Avengers, The End of the Affair, Strange Days, and Quiz Show. The cast of Sunshine also includes Rosemary Harris (Tom & Viv, The Gift), Molly Parker (Waking the Dead, The Five Senses), William Hurt (Dark City, Broadcast News), Jennifer Ehle (Bedrooms & Hallways, Paradise Road), and Rachel Weisz (The Mummy Returns, Chain Reaction).
Video: How does it look?
Sunshine is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. This is a solid visual effort, with no serious flaws to report. The film’s lush color scheme is bold and beautiful here, while flesh tones look natural and warm also. I saw no troubles in terms of contrast either, detail is terrific and black levels seem dead on as well. The print is also clean and shows no real flaws, a solid presentation indeed.
Audio: How does it sound?
The included Dolby Digital 5.1 track is good, but the film has a conservative audio presence, it does well enough. The surrounds are used at times to enhance the atmosphere, but this is a dialogue based film, so don’t expect much. But the elements come across well enough, so that’s what counts in the end, in my opinion. The vocals and music are very well presented, with no harshness or distortion I could detect in the least. This disc also includes a 2.0 surround track, as well as English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc contains no bonus materials, what a shocker, as most Paramount discs are loaded with extras. Wait a second…
