"Gloomy Sunday"

Tue, 23 Jan 2007 12:12:15 GMT

Zoli and I watched the German/Hungarian film Gloomy Sunday last night. Set in Budapest before and during WWII, it is the story of a Jewish restaurant owner, the pianist at the restaurant, and a waitress. The three are in a complicated relationship where both of the men are in love with the beautiful waitress, Ilona. Ilona, in turn, loves both of them and can't decide between the two of them. The men agree that it is better to have half of Ilona than no Ilona at all, and while they are jealous of each other's time with her, they also like each other and must maintain a good relationship in order to stay in her good graces. Meanwhile, a German businessman also falls for her, but she rejects him on their shared birthday. This businessman returns to Budapest as a Colonel during the war, adding gut-wrenching tension to the already difficult situation.

To celebrate Ilona's birthday, the pianist composes a haunting tune called "Gloomy Sunday," a song that moves more than 150 people worldwide to kill themselves. The song becomes a refrain throughout the movie, portending death and despair, while the plot swirls around love, hate, jealously, and betrayal.

While the movie hits hard and affects you long after viewing it, it does have both light moments and dark humor.

In German, with Hungarian actors and with English subtitles.

Buda Baby: Movies

"Gloomy Sunday"