An American Rhapsody () is a 2001 biographical drama film written and directed by Éva Gárdos. Based on Gárdos' life story, the film tells the story of a 15-year-old girl from a Hungarian-American family. It stars Nastassja Kinski, Scarlett Johansson, Tony Goldwyn, and Mae Whitman.
Plot
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In the summer of 1965, at age fifteen, Suzanne "Zsuzsi" Sandor describes her life as "falling apart." Rebellious, unsure of her true identity, she determines to return to Budapest where it all began. She recalls her father's fears that everyone he knew were either jailed or executed under Mátyás Rákosi's communist rule.
In 1950, Zsuzsi's parents, Peter and Margit, flee the oppressive Hungarian People's Republic, planning to start a publishing company in America. As defecting with children is difficult, they only bring their eldest Maria, entrusting baby Zsuzsi to Margit's mother Helen. At the train station, George tells the Sandors, a guide will have Zsuzsi brought to Vienna. But Helen stops the smuggler, fearing her methods to quiet infants (sedation inside a potato sack) might kill Zsuzsi. Discovering the unexpected complication, George hides Zsuzsi from the Secret Police at his mother's countryside home to be raised by a kindly foster couple, Jeno and Teri. Margit is enraged at Peter's failed plan, but with funds low, they are forced to sail from France to America.
Teri expresses reluctance at returning Zsuzsi. In Los Angeles, Margit waitresses at Mr. Woods' café, and Peter manufactures aircraft. Meanwhile, Helen toils at a Hungarian prison camp. For two more years, Margit writes to Dag Hammarskjöld, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, John Singer at the American Red Cross, Vice President Nixon, Senator Barry Goldwater, and even Nikita Khrushchev, to bring Zsuzsi to their new home. Dottie and Patti welcome Margit to the neighborhood, admiring her reply letter from Eleanor Roosevelt.
Zsuzsi celebrates her fifth birthday. With limited reforms after Stalin's death, Helen is released from prison, and sees Zsuzsi marching with schoolmates, singing communist propaganda songs. Helen and George drive Zsuzsi to Budapest; a flight takes her via London to L.A. where the press covers their arrival for television news. Later, Zsuzsi wonders away to the playground; returning, she cannot find her house. A neighbor woman walks her home, having recognized her from the news. Meanwhile, Jeno and Teri finally realize Zsuzsi was "stolen away" to America. Resenting the invasion of her privacy, Maria tricks Zsuzsi, teaching her English swear words. Margit tries explaining, Teri was not Zsuzsi's "mama," but Zsuzsi is homesick, keeping her belongings in her suitcase. After running off again, Peter makes a deal; when she gets older, he will buy her ticket if she still wants to go to Hungary, but first she must try adjusting.
With Sheila, teenaged Suzanne sneaks out to park, neck, and drink with her older boyfriend Paul. Margit forcibly pulls her back home. Now eighteen, Maria tries to advise Suzanne, but Maria admits she wants to marry and escape their parents. Peter must travel to Dallas for work. Suzanne stays out all night with Paul. At Margit's admonishment, Susanne shouts, "I hate you!" Margit installs bars over Suzanne's bedroom window, and a lock outside her door – "I won't let you ruin your life." Paul knocks on Suzanne's window; Margit threatens to call police. Suzanne loads a rifle, shouting "Mom, open the door!" But Margit is vacuuming. Arriving home, Peter hears shots fired and confronts Suzanne, who apologizes the next morning. She declares she must go to Budapest. Margit protests, "in Hungary, people disappear for saying the wrong word? And you shoot up your room!" Suzanne reminds Peter of his promise.
Zsuzsi reunites at Jeno's and Teri's new Budapest flat, since "a government big shot" commandeered their village home. First-hand, she witnesses the terrible conditions in communist Hungary. Suzanne tells her grandmother Helen about Paul, lamenting how she makes everyone unhappy. Asked why Margit hated Budapest, Helen explains, drunken Russian soldiers wanted young Margit, and killed her father for intervening. Margit vowed to leave for a better world for her children. Zsuzsi tells Jeno and Terri, "I love you," but "this is no longer my home." Helen's mansion now houses "ten or twelve" different families. Helen also recounts her prison years. Suzanne asks, "What do I do?" Helen replies that she already knows, and "We all made mistakes out of love."
Suzanne returns to L.A. where Margit says she is proud of her "brave girl." Suzanne counters, "You're brave....Hi mom."
Cast
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Reception
An American Rhapsody received mixed reviews, currently holding a 51/100 rating on Metacritic based on 22 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews. Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a 56% approval rating based on 61 reviews, with an average rating of 5.61/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Though obviously a labor of love, American Rhapsody is an uneven, heavy-handed effort, particularly in the second half".