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Sunshine Istvan Szabo Ralph Fiennes, William Hurt, Rachel Weisz and Deborah Kara Unger star in this earnest, finely crafted, epic drama from Istvan Szabo (Mephisto, Colonel Redl). In a tour de force performance, Fiennes plays three roles--father, son, and grandson in a Budapest family that struggles to survive the anti-Semitism that permeates the generations of each man. The film does a marvelous job of recreating the details of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Nazi and Communist eras in Hungary. "...a meditation on the agonies of 20th-century history. It's a brilliant, profound movie" (Stephen Hunter, Washington Post). In English. Hungary/Germany/Canada/Austria, 1999, 180 mins DVD | $37.95
25 Fireman Street Istvan Szabo An important film by Istvan Szabo with an intricate flashback structure that recalls Resnais. The setting is an old house on the eve of its demolition; during a hot summer night, the numerous inhabitants indulge in dreams and recollections of the events of the past thirty years. Hungarian with English subtitles. Hungary, 1973, 93 mins. DVD | $44.95
Being Julia Istvan Szabo The tenuous boundaries between art and life begin to blur irrevocably for Julia Lambert (Annette Benning), an aging actress of the 1930's British stage. Bored and frustrated with her career, Lambert allows a dashing, adoring fan (Shaun Evans) to chase her. This riles both his young lover (Lucy Punch) and her producer husband (Jeremy Irons), forcing Lambert to rediscover her career in a humorous and unexpected fashion. Istvan Szabo's (Mephisto) lush costume drama sparkles with life, and Benning proves a perfect fit for the witty and complex stage diva protagonist. "[Benning] digs into a pagoda-size heap of roles and roles-within-roles and pulls them all out, one by one, deftly" (Desson Thomson, Washington Post). USA, 2004, 103 mins. DVD | $44.95
Father Istvan Szabo This sensitive, intelligent study of adolescence and maturation focuses on a young man whose defense mechanism consists of idealizing the memory of his dead father. One of the key films of the Hungarian film renaissance, Father is a daring, emotionally charged film. Hungarian with DVD | $44.95
Lovefilm (Szerelmesfilm) Istvan Szabo This early film from Istvan Szabo (Mephisto, Colonel Redl, Sunshine) follows two childhood sweethearts who are inseparable until the Nazi's invasion of Hungary. They reunite, only to be separated again in the mid-fifties when one lover rejects Communist rule and emigrates to France while the other remains in Budapest. Keeping in touch through letters, they finally meet again and must decide if their lives will remain united or apart. "A gentle but telling film about human experience and the vagaries of love" (Gene Moskowitz, Variety). A.k.a. A Film About Love. Hungarian with English subtitles; Hungary, 1970, 123 mins. DVD | $44.95
Taking Sides Istvan Szabo A powerful drama chronicling the investigation of Wilhelm Furtwrangler (Stellan Skarsgard), the renowned conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic and Vienna Philharmonic orchestras, by the American occupying army during WWII. Major Steve Arnold (Harvey Keitel) is assigned to investigate Wilhelm for supposed crimes in support of Hitler and the Nazi regime, but he finds that the facts, as well as life in post-WWII Germany, are obscured by many ambiguities. "...an intelligent and moving drama of idea" (Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune). In English. Germany/Great Britain/France, 2001, 105 mins. DVD | $44.95
