An American Rhapsody (2001)

I don't understand this film because half the film, everyone was speaking Hungarian and I hadn't a clue what they were talking about. I couldn't understand why the movie didn't include the subtitles because I was unable to access a subtitle option with Putlocker. Probably if I was renting this on DVD, then I probably would have the option to use English subtitles. As well as that problem, I didn't really understand the story line because every character was racing around and it gave me a headache a bit. I felt you had to concentrate at one thing after the other and after the other. I seriously needed a breather and that's when I decided to stop watching the movie after watching 50 minutes of it. I am disappointed despite the movie having great reviews even it has a IMDb rating out of 6.9. I think its better if I just give this a 2 because it just didn't impress me enough to think of it as a great movie!

I loved this movie, although I found it sad. The little girl who played Suzanne as a child was phenomenal! Her eyes and facial expressions spoke volumes. When she tearfully told her father "I want to go home" it broke my heart. I can certainly understand that the mother wanted her child back, but considering the trauma it caused the child, I wish there had been some easier way to make the transition from well loved little Hungarian country girl to homesick, confused, misunderstood, (albeit brave) American child in L.A. suburbia. It did seem as though the parents and grandmother displayed selfish reasons for uprooting the child, never considering what it would be like from the child's point of view. I couldn't help but think that Zsuzi would have grown up to be a delightful teenager had she been left with her foster parents. She simply did not have the wherewithal to deal with being uprooted and transplanted with no warning, no preparation. No six year old, not even any 16 year old or 40 year old, for that matter, could deal with emotional trauma of this magnitude. I was left wanting to know MUCH MORE about this family ... did they return to visit Hungary? Did they openly keep in touch with the foster parents? How did this emotional upheaval affect Suzanne as an adult? I want a sequel.

I had to pinch myself when I read a previous review calling this a profound cinematic work of art! I just hope that reviewer hasn't seen many films in order to make that statement. This is worse than most TV or direct to video films and respected critic Roger Ebert gave it three stars!?. The direction starts off promising. The escape from Communist Hungary is recreated in black and white that has the look and feel of an old film but after this it descends into mediocrity with a strong reliance on flashback and heavy-handed symbolism. The acting is pretty average all around except Scarlett Johanssen whose portrayal of the teenage Suzanna was good given the limitations of the script, which is pretty limited. What lowered it below being an average, sentimental TV drama was a general lack of respect for the history and culture of Hungary. The representation of 1960's Hungary is dreadfully inaccurate with various factual errors. Although much of the Hungarian scenes were shot on location in Budapest, the rural scenes were suspiciously Romanian. Much of the language was blatantly an English script translated, and therefore the Hungarian language is often used inaccurately and unrealistically, particularly the phrase "I love you" which is not said in the same way as in the English language. The final insult is that much of the "traditional" Hungarian music in the background wasn't actually Hungarian but of Slav origin. Although apparently a vaguely autobiographical story of Eva Gardos, the director, this film shows remarkable ignorance to it's subject matter. Not recommended and certainly not an example of a "new dimension" in filmmaking by any standards.

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.