Gloomy Sunday(1999):A Bright Film on Human Relationship

 

Probably you have heard any of the numerous versions of the song popularly known as “Gloomy Sunday“. It is originated from Hungarian “Szomorú Vasárnap”, a song written by the Hungarian self-taught pianist and composer Rezső Seress in 1933. According to urban legend, it inspired hundreds of suicides. When the song was first marketed in the United States, it became known as the “Hungarian suicide song“. If you have already listened to this song you know that both the lyric and the tune of the song is very hard to forget and has  a distinctive captivating power. So when I’m talking about the movie with the same name as the song, you may assume beforehand that the movie and the song has a common the. But as a viewer I could not relate these two piece-ofart, though the film has a wonderful implication of the appeal of the song.  

The story of “Gloomy Sunday” (directed by Rolf Schübel) evolves through the relationships of László (Joachim Król), Ilona (Erika Marozsán) and Andras (Stefano Dionisi) in the time of Second World War. It all starts in a restaurant of Budapest in Thirties. László , the owner of the restaurant is in deep love with the beautiful waitress Ilona. He hired a pianist- Andras. Andras and Ilona fell for each other and andras composed his only creation “Gloomy Sunday” as a birthday gift for Ilona. Though He created the tune he could not understand the cryptic call of the tune, which everyone feels when listening to it. Later it was revealed that this call is to cross the border of life and numerous people commited suicide, as the popular urban legend really exists.  Caught in a triangular love-hate web, László, Ilona and Andras surely faced some complex and bitter situation but they could overcome taboos and could happily continue this unconventional relationship. The story gets a twist when Hans (Ben Becker) came to Budapest as a superior personnel of German Army. Years earlier, Hans fell in love with Ilona at first sight and tried to commit suicide being rejected. Mighty heart László saved him and they became good friends. But in this episode of the film, the characteristics of Hans got changed a lot. On the other side, Andras got more and more famous for the song and became equally frustrated as the song was identified as a primary reason of numerous suicide all over the world. The story goes on and it ended with a twist at the last.

I admit, the relationship among the main three characters of the movie with all its complexities made me think a lot. And the part of László really enthralled me. He is quite a character, quite a human character. Not any angel, he envied Andras, not a devil- he could not even think of taking any revenge on Andras and Ilona when he was left behind. Not only this aspect, I must respect this character a s it is portrayed all over the film. László is  strong, bold, has aesthetic sense, sensitive, and above all Human.

The last part or I better say, the twist of the film could not make me amused and I’m a bit doubtful whether it was really needed or not. But overall it is a good movie, pleasure to watch and have some food for thoughts. The lyrics and tune of “Gloomy Sunday” is excellent and very much appropriate to create such urban legend. I’m concluding with the lyric and a suggestion to the readers to make sometime to watch this movie.

  

Gloomy Sunday Lyrics

Sunday is gloomy
My hours are slumberless
Dearest the shadows
I live with a numberless
Little white flowers
Will never awaken you
Not where the black coach
Of sorrow has taken you
Angels have no thoughts
Of ever returning you
Would they be angry
If I thought of joining you?

Gloomy Sunday
Gloomy Sunday

Gloomy Sunday
With shadows I spend it all
My heart and I
Have decided to end it all
Soon there’ll be candles
And prayers that are said I know
But let them not weep
Let them know that I’m glad to go
Death is no dream
In death I’m caressing you
With the last breath of my soul
I’ll be blessing you

Gloomy Sunday
Gloomy Sunday

Dreaming,I was only dreaming
I wake and I find you asleep
In the deep of my heart

Darling I hope
That my dream never haunted you
My heart is telling you
How much I wanted you

Gloomy Sunday……