The story of 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.
Ralph Fiennes
as Ignatz/Adam/Ivan Sors
Rosemary Harris
as Valerie Sors
Rachel Weisz
as Greta
Jennifer Ehle
as Valerie Sonnenschein
Deborah Kara Unger
as Carole Kovacs
William Hurt
as Andor Knorr
Molly Parker
as Hannah Wippler
James Frain
as Gustave Sonnenschein
David de Keyser
as Emmanuel Sonnenschein
John Neville
as Gustave Sors
Miriam Margolyes
as Rose Sonnenschein
Rüdiger Vogler
as Jakofalvy
