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.

---

Plot Keywords:

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

---

Taglines:

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

---

Genres:

Drama

---

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

The final black and white photo still at the end of the movie is of the young Éva Gárdos being reunited with her parents upon arrival in the USA in 1955.

---

Goofs

International trains from Hungary would very rarely have been steam trains in the 1960s.

---

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.

---

Crazy Credits

Film has the following dedication before the credits: For my Mother and Father

---

Soundtracks

Primrose Lane
(1957)
Written by Wayne Shanklin / George 'Red' Callender (as George Callender)
Performed by Jerry Wallace
Courtesy of Window Productions & Gladys Music & Univeral-Polygram Int'l Publishing, Inc. (ASCAP)

User Reviews

An all-around good movie

Anyone that is not moved after watching this movie might be related to the Grinch, having a heart that is 4 times too small to feel. Of all the crap that spews out of hollywood, we should be glad that they still make movies like this one. The acting was believable, and the story amazing. I can watch this movie over and over and not get sick of it. If you have not seen it, or thought it was a dud, watch it again with new eyes.