Sunshine (1999)

Sunshine (1999)

Sunshine is a 1999 Austrian/German/Hungarian/Canadian historical drama written, produced and directed by Hungarian director István Szabó. It chronicles the upheaval in Hungary during the 20th century through the eyes of three generations of a Hungarian Jewish family. Ralph Fiennes plays three roles in the film as Hungary goes from monarchy, to fascism, and communism and as the family struggles with their religious and cultural identity. Rosemary Harris co-stars, along with her daughter Jennifer Ehle, William Hurt, Rachel Weisz and Mark Strong. The film won Best Film at the 20th Genie Awards (Canadian films).

The following weapons were used in the film Sunshine:

Handguns

Mauser C96

The commander of the Lenin Boys (Tamás Juranics) has a Mauser C96 in a wooden holster/stock on his hip. The Lenin Boys were enforcers during the Hungarian Soviet Republic that existed for a few months after World War I.

C96 "Broomhandle" Mauser fitted with holster/stock combo - 7.63x25mm Mauser

The commander on the left with his C96 in its holster/stock.

Femaru 37M

Ivan Sors (Ralph Fiennes) lays what appears to be a Femaru 37M on a table during an interrogation.

Hungarian-issued Femaru 37M in 9 x 17mm Browning Short

Ivan challenges a suspect to pick up his sidearm.

The pistol moved to the side when it comes time to name names.

Submachine Guns

PPSh-41

Comrade Gen. Kope (Trevor Peacock) uses a PPSh-41 while boar hunting.

Soviet PPSh-41 Submachine Gun - 7.62x25mm Tokarev

The Comrade General blazing away.

The hunt, in a less sophisticated time.

Shotguns

Double barreled shotgun

Double barreled shotguns are used for hunting, first by hunters including Ignatz Sonnenschein before World War I, and later by hunters including his grandson Ivan Sors after WWII. (Both men played by Ralph Fiennes)

Charles Parker 1878 Side by Side Shotgun - 12 Gauge

Prior to World War I, Ignatz Sonnenschein and his colleagues hunt with double barrel shotguns.

An unidentified hunter with his shotgun during the first hunt.

Ignatz fires his shotgun during the first hunt.

The Minister of Justice (Bill Paterson) with his shotgun.

Years later, after World War II, Ivan Sors participates in a similar hunt, also using a double barreled shotgun.

A traditional hunter shakes his head at the soldiers hunting with Mosin-Nagants and PPSh-41s.

Andor Knorr (William Hurt) with his shotgun during the second hunt.

Rifles

Steyr Mannlicher M1895

One of the Lenin Boys is armed with a Steyr Mannlicher M1895 short rifle.

Steyr M1895 Short Rifle (M1930 Conversion) - 8x56R

The Lenin Boy with his rifle.

Karabiner 98k

In a concentration camp, the guards are armed with what appear to be Karabiner 98k rifles. During WWII, the Hungarian Army used the FEG 43M rifle, which resembled the K98K.

Karabiner 98k - German manufacture 1937 date - 7.92x57mm Mauser

A defiant Adam Sors (also played by Ralph Fiennes) is confronted by a sadistic concentration camp guard. His goons are armed with K98K rifles.

Guards drag Adam Sors away.

Guards hang Adam Sors to be beaten.

Mosin Nagant rifle

After World War II, Hungary was behind the Iron Curtain, and thus used Soviet weapons, such as the Mosin Nagant Rifle.

Full-length, Imperial Russian Mosin Nagant M1891 - 7.62x54mm R

One of the communist officials uses a Mosin Nagant rifle while boar hunting.

Soldiers and policemen hunt with their Mosin Nagants.

An honor guard fires a salute after a funeral.

Trivia

T-34 and T-55 tanks

After souring with the Hungarian communists, Ivan Sors participates in the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. He rallies the people in a square, despite the Soviet tanks, two T-55s and a T-34 rolling up on them.

A T-34 rolls up on the rally.

The crowd is not afraid of the T-55 tanks.