The film follows a Jewish family living in Hungary through three generations, rising from humble beginnings to positions of wealth and power in the crumbling Austro-Hungarian Empire. The patriarch becomes a prominent judge but is torn when his government sanctions anti-Jewish persecutions. His son converts to Christianity to advance his career as a champion fencer and Olympic hero, but is caught up in the Holocaust. Finally, the grandson, after surviving war, revolution, loss and betrayal, realizes that his ultimate allegiance must be to himself and his heritage.
Release Date: 14 July 2000Runtime: 181 min
Stars:
- Bill Paterson
- David de Keyser
- Deborah Kara Unger
- Hanns Zischler
- James Frain
- Jennifer Ehle
- John Neville
- Mark Strong
- Miriam Margolyes
- Molly Parker
- Rachel Weisz
- Ralph Fiennes
- Rosemary Harris
- Rüdiger Vogler
- Trevor Peacock
Director: István Szabó
