Other Titles • An American Rhapsody • Amerikai rapszódia (2002)
Synopses for An American Rhapsody (2001)
1.
This autobiographical coming of age tale from writer-director Eva Gardos begins in 1950s Hungary as Communist oppression forces a pair of aristocratic parents (Nastassja Kinski and Tony Goldwyn) to sneak across the border to freedom and find a new life in America. Circumstances result in their infant daughter, Zsuza, being left behind to spend her formative years in the care of loving Hungarian peasants. When, at age six, she finally comes to the U.S., the cross-curtain culture shock makes for an extra-stormy adolescence, especially when her guilt-ridden mother becomes over-protective to the point of keeping Zsuza locked in her room.
The film makes striking contrast between the old-world beauty of Hungary and the prefabricated gaudiness of post-war America, and Gardos manages to be refreshingly non-judgmental in portraying the pros and cons of each. Performances are uniformly strong, especially from the always-intense Kinski, and newcomer Kelly Endrész-Bálanki as the 6-year-old Zsuzsa (she is later played by Scarlett Johansen, who is also very good). A heartfelt tearjerker that is never maudlin or forced, this story benefits from sharp period detail and has a recognizable ring of truth.
2.
One family's struggle for survival, for justice, for freedom.
One of the most acclaimed films of the year, An American Rhapsody is based on the true story of a young girl's unforgettable journey of self-discovery.
Persecuted by an oppressive Communist government, a Hungarian couple (Nastassja Kinski and Tony Goldwyn) makes a daring flight for freedom. The escape is successful, but comes at an unthinkable price - the couple's baby girl, Suzanne, is left behind. Six years later, Suzanne is uprooted from the loving care of her Hungarian foster parents and reunited with her momther and father in California. She is awed by her new modern lifestyle and wonderful discoveries such as TV, boys and rock and roll. But as she grows, so do the questions about her mysterious past and heritage. Feeling lost and alienated, the teenaged Suzanne (Scarlett Johansson) returns to Hungary, embarking on a personal search that reveals some shocking secrets… and the true meaning of family, freedom and home.
Mooviees.com is not the official site for this film.
All editorial views and opinions expressed here are for entertainment purposes only.
<>
Movie Database
In Theaters
