Colonel Redl

Colonel Redl German Oberst Redl original title Hungarian Redl ezredes is a 1985 drama film by Hungarian director Istvn Szab. The plot, set in the period before World War I, follows the rise of Alfred Redl, an officer in the AustroHungarian empire. Redl, who comes from a humble background, enters military school as a boy and has an illustrious military career pushed forward by his loyalty to the crown. He is appointed the head of an intelligence gathering unit, but his attraction to men eventually causes his downfall.

Alfred Redl, a Ruthenian boy from Galicia in the Austria Hungary Empire, wins an appointment to a prestigious military academy in spite of being the son of a mere peasant farmer. At his departure from home, his mother installs in him eternal gratitude towards the Emperor Franz Josef. Redl is never to forget that he owes to the emperor his promising career.At the military academy, the young Redl soon stands out for his talent, drive and loyalty to the Crown. One of his teachers forces him to inform on Kristof Kubinyi, a student whos the source of a practical joke though he beats himself up for incriminating his comrade, Alfred soon realizes that to rise in the ranks he must overcome his peasant background by ingratiating himself with his superiors. Alfred and Kristof become fast friends. Kubinyi invites Redl home for the holidays to the elegant residence of his parents, who lead a life of privilege and nobility in Hungary. There, Alfred meets Kristofs pretty sister, Katalin, who welcomes him warmly. To Kubinyis aristocratic parents, Redl hides his true humble background pretending to be of Hungarian ancestry and a member from an old family who lost all its fortune. ........

Source: Wikipedia