wartime europe provide the backdrop to this tale of three star cross hungarian bless and curse by the attraction of the superlative defying ilona . while male suitor lászló and andras be the plot most obvious victim and ilona herself fall prey to her own power and and the musical piece they inspire . in these imdb day it be so difficult to come to a film completely cold and and i always feel a little sorry for audience who do not get to experience film like gloomy sunday completely unencumbered . the blurb for the film tell you it be in one sense a menage a trois story and but that be already give away too much for my taste . there be truly surprising and dramatic moment in this film represent lászló dare to tell a joke that could cost him his life and ilona make an ill fat decision to seduce andras and and a moment of wonderful pathos climax the film a lászló be about to board a train . this be the film cathartic climax and the resolution of the wartime tale be tell in flashback . the actual resolution of the film that take place in the present time be just a shade formulaic and overcook an otherwise superbly balance and nuanced film . excellent performance and a seductive musical theme and and extra plaudit for employment of a too often neglected technique these day leave off screen action to the viewer imagination . two suicide attempt and a character ageing by 50 year be all convey through clever edit rather than expensive stunt and cgi or prosthetics . maybe it be a budgetary rather than aesthetic decision to do so and but bravo nonetheless . gloomy sunday be a quality film with image and sound that will remain with you long afterwards . tragic but uplifting and my estimation of it grow with each subsequent viewing .