**István Szabó** (born 1938) is an internationally acclaimed Hungarian film director, known for films that explore the history and identity of Central Europe. His career is dominated by the 'German Trilogy': *Mephisto* (Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1981), *Colonel Redl* (1985), and *Hanussen* (1988). These works examine the moral and psychological dilemmas of individuals under totalitarian regimes, exploring themes such as memory, betrayal, and personal compromise.

Also among his most significant works is *Sunshine* (1999), which chronicles the history of a Hungarian Jewish family across three generations. Szabó's style is characterized by a deep psychological analysis of characters and a narrative that intertwines past and present, often offering meditations on the nature of power and the individual's capacity to resist or conform.