Plot
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.
Written by
István Szabó, Israel Horovitz
Directed by
István Szabó
Crew
Production Countries
Austria, Canada, Germany, Hungary
Production Companies
Channel Four Films, Dor Film Production Company, Alliance Atlantis Communications, Serendipity Point Films, Eurimages, Kinowelt Filmproduktion, Bavaria Film and Television Fund, Hungarian Motion Picture Fund, ISL Film, TV 2, Vienna Film Financing Fund, ORF, Starhaus Filmproduktion, The Movie Network, Téléfilm Canada, InterCom
Languages
English, Français
Awards
12 wins & 17 nominations