Synopsis

Across five generations, the Sonnenschein family rises from modest origins in Austria-Hungary through the success of its celebrated herbal liqueur, Taste of Sunshine. As political upheaval, antisemitism, war, fascism, and communism reshape Hungary, family members repeatedly change their names and compromise their identities to survive. The story ultimately follows Ivan, who confronts the buried history and painful choices that shaped his family.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film's original title, A napfeny ize, translates as "The Taste of Sunshine." The English title also reflects the Sonnenschein family name, which means "sunshine" in German.

• The family's herbal liquor business was inspired by Unicum, the famous Hungarian bitters brand associated with the Zwack family.

• The Sonnenschein surname was drawn from Istvan Szabo's own family history, giving the fictional saga a personal connection to the filmmaker's Hungarian background.

• Ralph Fiennes plays three successive generations of the central male character: Ignatz Sonnenschein, Adam Sors, and Ivan Sors.

• Jennifer Ehle and Rosemary Harris, who portray Valerie at different ages, are mother and daughter in real life.

• The family home seen in the film uses the courtyard and house where Szabo grew up.

• Adam's athletic storyline draws partly on the lives of Hungarian Jewish fencers Attila Petschauer and Endre Kabos, both Olympic champions whose lives were destroyed during the Holocaust.

• The film was an international co-production involving Canada, Germany, Hungary, and Austria. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 1999.

• Sunshine received European Film Awards for Ralph Fiennes and for the screenplay by Istvan Szabo and Israel Horovitz. It also won Canada's Genie Award for Best Motion Picture.