Rating: 
Summary: Citizen of Two Worlds
Review: American Rhapsody explores the dilemma of being a citizen of two worlds but not comfortable in either. An infant is left behind the Iron Curtain when the family escapes from Hungary and is raised in the pastoral countryside while the family struggles to gain her release. The mother, Kinski, is tormented at having left her daughter behind despite living an immigrant success story in suburban LA. When her daughter is finally abruptly removed from her adoptive family in Hungary she just doesn't feel the fit of her new family and goes thru a somewhat exagerated rebellion with her Mom. The mother/daughter strain is quite palpable and only finds a resolve when the daughter returns from a return visit to Hungary, where her grandmother explains the mother's motivations. Since the grandmother has deceived before, there remains some ambiquity as to whether the tale told is true. The pull of living two citizenships is felt by Christians seeking to live in the world but not of the world. The film touches the emotions effectively while engaging the intellect with worthwhile questions.
Rating: 
Summary: A lesson on the meaning of home and family
Review: AN AMERICAN RHAPSODY, directed by Éva Gárdos, is a poignant film about family, the concept of "home", and the promise America held out to the refugees fleeing Stalin's Eastern Europe in the years following World War II.The movie begins in the late 40's as infant Suzanne is left behind in Budapest with her grandmother as her parents, Margit and Peter, flee with an older daughter to the West and the suburbs of Los Angeles. The grandmother, Helen, is soon arrested, and the baby is taken in by a childless couple, Jeno and Teri, who live in the countryside. Suzanne remains with her doting foster parents for six years, becoming as attached to them as if she was their own child. When Stalin finally dies, the grandmother is released, and soon removes Suzanne from her rural home and sends her alone to California to be reunited with the biological parents. After an initial fascination with American affluence, food and toys, Suzanne becomes deeply homesick. Her father makes a deal with her; try to accept life with the family and, when she is older, he promises to send her back to Hungary to visit the "parents" she pines for. The girl struggles at it for nine years, demonstrating increasing passive hostility towards her over-controlling mother, who wishes to protect her from the evils of the day, boys and cigarettes. (My, how times have changed!). Finally, after a confrontation between Suzanne and Margit that escalates to near violence while Peter is off on a business trip, Dad finally keeps his promise. What 15 year old Suzanne discovers back in Hungary is the crux of the story. All of the adult actors are superb: Nastassja Kinski (Margit), Tony Goldwyn (Peter), Agi Banfalvy (Helen), Zsusza Czinkoczi (Teri), and Balazs Galko (Jeno, with the engaging handlebar moustache). Scarlett Johanssen, who previously played the traumatized Grace Maclean in Robert Redford's THE HORSE WHISPERER, is again convincing as the emotionally tortured teenaged Suzanne. Above all, Kelly Endresz Banlaki is absolutely delightful as Suzanne's 6 year old persona. I was privileged to attend a private screening of AN AMERICAN RHAPSODY, after which Éva Gárdos answered questions from the audience. The film was based on her life and, yes, she really did do to her bedroom door what was depicted on the screen. And Kelly Banlaki was the last of several hundred children auditioned in Budapest during the Hungarian location shoot frantically completed over a few short weeks. Gárdos lovingly remembers her real-life foster parents, who died six months after her return "home". She's come to terms with her biological parents, and realizes that her life is richer for having been loved by both sets. AN AMERICAN RHAPSODY is a must-see contribution to this year's cinematic season - a quality three-hankie event for those who tear easily. I recommend it without reservation.
Rating:
Summary: A lesson on the meaning of home and family
Review: AN AMERICAN RHAPSODY, directed by Éva Gárdos, is a poignant film about family, the concept of "home", and the promise America held out to the refugees fleeing Stalin's Eastern Europe in the years following World War II. The movie begins in the late 40's as infant Suzanne is left behind in Budapest with her grandmother as her parents, Margit and Peter, flee with an older daughter to the West and the suburbs of Los Angeles. The grandmother, Helen, is soon arrested, and the baby is taken in by a childless couple, Jeno and Teri, who live in the countryside. Suzanne remains with her doting foster parents for six years, becoming as attached to them as if she was their own child. When Stalin finally dies, the grandmother is released, and soon removes Suzanne from her rural home and sends her alone to California to be reunited with the biological parents. After an initial fascination with American affluence, food and toys, Suzanne becomes deeply homesick. Her father makes a deal with her; try to accept life with the family and, when she is older, he promises to send her back to Hungary to visit the "parents" she pines for. The girl struggles at it for nine years, demonstrating increasing passive hostility towards her over-controlling mother, who wishes to protect her from the evils of the day, boys and cigarettes. (My, how times have changed!). Finally, after a confrontation between Suzanne and Margit that escalates to near violence while Peter is off on a business trip, Dad finally keeps his promise. What 15 year old Suzanne discovers back in Hungary is the crux of the story. All of the adult actors are superb: Nastassja Kinski (Margit), Tony Goldwyn (Peter), Agi Banfalvy (Helen), Zsusza Czinkoczi (Teri), and Balazs Galko (Jeno, with the engaging handlebar moustache). Scarlett Johanssen, who previously played the traumatized Grace Maclean in Robert Redford's THE HORSE WHISPERER, is again convincing as the emotionally tortured teenaged Suzanne. Above all, Kelly Endresz Banlaki is absolutely delightful as Suzanne's 6 year old persona. I was privileged to attend a private screening of AN AMERICAN RHAPSODY, after which Éva Gárdos answered questions from the audience. The film was based on her life and, yes, she really did do to her bedroom door what was depicted on the screen. And Kelly Banlaki was the last of several hundred children auditioned in Budapest during the Hungarian location shoot frantically completed over a few short weeks. Gárdos lovingly remembers her real-life foster parents, who died six months after her return "home". She's come to terms with her biological parents, and realizes that her life is richer for having been loved by both sets. AN AMERICAN RHAPSODY is a must-see contribution to this year's cinematic season - a quality three-hankie event for those who tear easily. I recommend it without reservation.
Rating:
Summary: An American Rhapsody
Review: Any one who deals with foster children or orphans should see this film. It aptly depicts the emotions of being taken from your parents and thrust into a new environment.
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful, Beautiful Film!
Review: First of all, it was so refreshing to watch a movie that didn't seem like it came straight from the same old Hollywood recycling bin. This movie was original, unique, and very well cast and directed. This film also tells the story of a piece of history and a part of the world that is often overlooked and stereotyped. In a day and age where many films are made about "ethnic minority" immigrants, it was interesting to watch a film depicting the struggles of immigrants from a country in Europe (Hungary) that went through so much turmoil and hardship. The transition of different time periods and places (half the movie is set in Hungary - the other half in Los Angeles) was also smooth and well executed. Lastly, the cast was superb. Each character fit their individual roles perfectly and it was also interesting to see a pre-"Lost in Translation" Scarlett Johanssen. I highly recommend this film!
Rating:
Summary: a picture of life
Review: great movie after all these years nastassja still looks great and very beautiful and fits well on here role as margit sandor a hungarian mother of 2 daughters one is left behind while she and her husband escape from the horrors of their native land and several years later reunited with the daughter(scarlett johanssen) whos left behind during their escape with the help of the president. as Suzzane grows older a friction between mother and child occurs which leads suzzane to revisit her motherland inorder to unlock her pasts and later on realizing how hard her parents work just to get her out of that land.
A great movie with lots of moral lessons to learn, a must watch if you hate your parents.
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie
Review: I don't have the DVD yet but I just saw this movie on The Movie Channel just because Scarlett Johansson was in it and she's just arresting. The movie is great. You just don't know what kind of sacrifices people close to you make in order for you to have a better life than they did. It's hard also to move on and leave the ones you love.
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie
Review: I don't have the DVD yet but I just saw this movie on The Movie Channel just because Scarlett Johansson was in it and she's just arresting. The movie is great. You just don't know what kind of sacrifices people close to you make in order for you to have a better life than they did. It's hard also to move on and leave the ones you love.
Rating:
Summary: great!
Review: i lived in hungary for four years when i was younger and this movie brought back so many memories. it was soo good. it had so many unexpected twists. i absolutely loved it. the actors were so good and believable and the plot was absolutely fabulous. it was so touching and sweet. i absolutely loved it!
Rating:
Summary: Really human
Review: I loved this movie, because it reflects what trully happened to the vast majority of Hungarian families. I'm one of them too, and my parents also suffered the pain and sadness of leaving some family away, and we trully relate with this movie.
|
