An American Rhapsody (2001)

A young Hungarian girl struggles to find her place in the world when she's reunited with her parents in the USA years after she was left behind during their flight from the communist country in the 1950s.

Director:

Éva Gárdos (as Éva Gardos)

Writer:

Éva Gárdos (as Éva Gardos)

Stars:

Nastassja Kinski, Scarlett Johansson, Raffaella Bánsági

5 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Scarlett Johansson	...	Suzanne - at 15
Nastassja Kinski	...	Margit
Raffaella Bánsági	...	Suzanne - Infant
Tony Goldwyn	...	Peter
Ágnes Bánfalvy	...	Helen (as Ági Bánfalvy)
Zoltán Seress	...	George
Klaudia Szabó	...	Maria - at 4
Zsolt Zágoni	...	Russian Soldier
András Szöke	...	Istvan
Erzsi Pásztor	...	Ilus
Carlos Laszlo	...	Boy on Train
Bori Kereszturi	...	Suzanne - at 3 (as Boru Keresztúri)
Péter Kálloy Molnár	...	AVO Officer (as Péter Kállóy Molnár)
Zsuzsa Czinkóczi	...	Teri
Balázs Galkó	...	Jeno

Storyline

In 1950, a Hungarian couple, Peter and Margit, are forced to flee from the oppressive communist country for the USA with their eldest daughter Maria, but are forced to leave behind their infant daughter Suzanne who is raised by kindly foster couple. 6 years later, Peter and Margit arrange for the American Red Cross to bring Suzanne to their new home in Los Angeles where the perplexed youth is forced to accept her sudden change in home and country which leads to a troubled growing up. At age 15, the rebellious and unsure-of-herself Suzanne tries to come to terms with her roots and decides to travel back to Budapest, Hungary to find her true identity.

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Plot Keywords:

year 1950 | hungarian | usa | 1950s | american red cross | 

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Taglines:

One family struggles for survival, for justice, for freedom.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some violent content and thematic material

Details

Official Sites:

Paramount [United States]

Country:

USA Hungary

Language:

English Hungarian

Release Date:

28 February 2002 (Hungary)

Also Known As:

Uma Rapsódia Americana

Filming Locations:

Hungary

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$40,200, 12 August 2001

Gross USA:

$850,255

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$970,676

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fireworks Pictures, Seven Arts Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Éva Gárdos met actress Colleen Camp on the set of Apocalypse Now (1979), when she was a casting director for the film. During shooting breaks, Éva told Colleen her true story of her childhood as a Hungarian émigré and Colleen encouraged her to turn it into a film. Colleen Camp would ultimately help produce the film, and played a small role in it as a neighborhood housewife.

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Goofs

The map of Budapest Zsuzsi is checking out on the banks of the Danube (after walking across the Chain Bridge) is a late 1990s edition one.

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Quotes

Margit: Do you know what your father and I had to go through...
Suzanne - at 15: Yeah, I know, you- you walked 20 kilometers and you- you climbed under barbed wire, right? Yeah, I know.
Margit: You don't know anything.

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Crazy Credits

After the film is a black and white picture of Éva Gárdos with her parents circa 1955.

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Soundtracks

Jaj Istenem
Arranged by Jeno Zsigo
Performed by Ando Drom
Courtesy of The Ando Drom Foundation

User Reviews

The second(Babette's Feast is number 1) best movie of my life

If anyone can watch this heartbreaking tale without crying, you must have a heart of coal. Natasha, Scarlet, the war between Mom and daughter, the trip to Hungary, her reunion with the farm couple who adored her, oh my God. I saw this first in Santa Monica with a male friend who is a stolid and Stoic Estonian , and he sobbed. A movie of great passion and love. When I want to cry I watch it again.