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
Ignatz/Adam/Ivan Sors
Rosemary Harris
Valerie Sors
Rachel Weisz
Greta
Jennifer Ehle
Valerie Sonnenschein
Deborah Kara Unger
Carole Kovacs
William Hurt
Andor Knorr
Molly Parker
Hannah Wippler
James Frain
Gustave Sonnenschein
David de Keyser
Emmanuel Sonnenschein
John Neville
Gustave Sors
Miriam Margolyes
Rose Sonnenschein
Rüdiger Vogler
Jakofalvy
Mark Strong
István Sors
Bill Paterson
Minister of Justice
Trevor Peacock
Comrade Gen. Kope
Hanns Zischler
Baron Margitta
Mari Törőcsik
Older Kato
Katja Studt
Kato
Péter Andorai
Anselmi
Buddy Elias
Mr. Brenner
János Kulka
Molnár
Lajos Kovács
MP in Camp
Péter Halász
Wild Duck
Kathleen Gati
Josefa Sonnenschein
Vilmos Kun
Rabbi Bettelheim
Juhász Jácint
Mr. Hackl
Flóra Kádár
Mrs. Hackl
Kati Sólyom
Landlady in Vienna
Joachim Bißmeier
Dr. Emil Vitak
Tamás Fodor
Notary
Attila Lőte
Count Forgach
Frederick Treves
Emperor
István Hirtling
Dr. Lanyi
Ádám László
Emmanuel at 12
Balázs Hantos
Aaron Sonnenschein
Tamás Raj
Rabbi at Wedding
Zoltán Bognár
Doctor #1
Sándor Simó
Doctor #2
Zoltán Gera
Man at Synagogue
András Fekete
Footman
Bálint Trunkó
István at 18
János Nemes
Ádám at 17/Ivan at 16
Tamás Juranics
Commander of Lenin Boys
András Stohl
Red Guard
Tamás Keresztes
1st Boy
Bence Kotány
2nd Boy
Zsolt László
Lugosy
Gábor Mádi Szabó
Priest at Conversion
István Szilágyi
Hungler
László Gálffi
Rossa
Zoltán Seress
Tersikovsky
István Bubik
Saray
Eszter Ónodi
Secretary at Officer's Club
Sándor Dánffy
Policeman
Károly Mécs
Defense Secretary
Rajhona Ádám
Caretaker
Péter Takács
Stefano Sarto
László Szepesi
Olympic Judge
Gábor Máté
Rosner
Israel Horovitz
Poet
Andrea Fullajtár
Agota Hofer
György Kézdy
Outraged Man
Tamás Jordán
Sommer
István Fonyó
Warehouse Guard
József Fonyó
Prison Sergeant
Frigyes Hollósi
Mr. Ledniczky
Ila Schütz
Mrs. Ledniczky
János Vészi
Doctor #3
Ilona Gurnik
Woman in Hospital
Éva Igó
Policewoman
Jack Beresford
Self - Olympics, Carries UK Flag (archive footage) (uncredited)
Wilhelm Brückner
Self - Behind Hitler (archive footage) (uncredited)
Henri de Baillet-Latour
Self - with Hitler and Diem (archive footage) (uncredited)
Gudrun Diem
Self - Presents Flowers to Hitler (archive footage) (uncredited)
Wilhelm Frick
Self - Beside Hitler (archive footage) (uncredited)
Joseph Goebbels
Self - Beside Hitler (archive footage) (uncredited)
Rudolf Heß
Self - Beside Hitler (archive footage) (uncredited)
Adolf Hitler
Self - 1936 Berlin Olympic Games (archive footage) (uncredited)
Wilhelm Keitel
Self - With Hitler/Baillet-Latour (archive footage) (uncredited)
King Umberto II
Self - Beside Hitler (archive footage) (uncredited)
Nikkolas Lavorato
(uncredited)
Theodor Lewald
Self - with Hitler and Diem (archive footage) (uncredited)
Julius Schaub
Self - Behind Hitler (archive footage) (uncredited)