An American Rhapsody

An American Rhapsody

‘An American Rhapsody’ speaks through a 15-year-old girl of the United States, though it is more or less the story of her mother. The teenager’s name is Suzanne; she had grown up in Hungary where she was taken care of by foster parents whom she loved very much until when she turned six. Then, as she knows it then, they were snatched away from her and sent on an airplane to join her “real” family in America.

The more time goes by, the more self-awareness dawns on her: at the peak of Stalinism horror, Margit and Peter (her parents) fled Hungary with their elder daughter. They couldn’t bring babies along so they left Suzanne who was just but an infant with her grandmother. The latter gave out Suzanne to a childless couple once arrested and released when Stalin died before reclaiming her for a ‘day visit” then sending her off again but this time bound for USA.

These are two different versions which carry with them various emotional weights. Though glad about having personal space in one of Los Angeles’ bedroom suburbs, little Suzie misses these people who used to be mommy and daddy to her. The scar remains fresh even now that she has come of age together with him (Tony Goldwyn), but there exists an uneasy truce between herself and mom (Nastassja Kinski). We encounter this fifteen year old girl during full swing teenage rebellion phase.

She’s like any other adolescent smoking cigarettes behind parents’ backs while hanging out with friends or making lovey-dovey eyes at boys etc. Yet let it not escape us how over protective Suzanne’s mother turns out to be; actually almost paranoid about daughter’s safety! For example; seeing those two lock lips causes mama bear instinct kick into high gear hence forcefully pulling them apart right there at school grounds before proceeding home where windows get barred shut plus door fitted with deadbolt lock. As expected, Suz’s reaction towards being confined could only come straight from her heart it was genuine as well as extreme which drew attention from all quarters.

She is granted permission to travel back Hungary so as have another meeting with granny Helen (Agi Banfalvy) alongside foster parents Teri (Zsuzsa Czinkoczi) and Jeno (Balazs Galko). From there she learns some things about mom’s past that make her comprehend rather than fully embrace the latter’s over-protectiveness.

What this movie offers along its path is an understanding of how sick states breed unhealthy citizens while showing us just how much damage can be done by wicked leadership on relationship between mother and daughter. ‘An American Rhapsody’ was written and directed by Eva Gardos who happens to be Suzanne in real life too; thus making it her own tale. The account concerning her mum is told more indirectly but truth is: out of two them it’s still mummy dearest who suffered most as well as acting victim not baby gurl.

Among Nastassja Kinski’s most touching performances ever recorded on tape; besides all these things happening off-screen or through eyesight belonging solely unto Suzanne herself . Wearing new dresses made America keeping clean house enjoying wealth must sometimes look like illusion for somebody such Helen WW2 survivor sudden attack sufferer Stalinist dictatorship refugee etcetera. One should protect their offspring without fail but once childhood ends there comes adulthood which has never spared anyone anything hence parents denying such fact are insane per se.

”Ghost World” starred Scarlett Johannson in a kind of a sulk. She wants to be a California girl and have fun, fun, fun immersed in the culture celebrated by the Beach Boys. And her mother treats her like a bomb about to go off. She is Suzanne. But I liked the way Johansson doesn’t play her as a colorful victim but as an ordinary adolescent girl who retreats into secrecy and passive hostility. Not so much because Suzanne is meant to be a rebel without or even with a cause but more like the bystander at some sad historical accident.

I understand why Eva Gardos has to tell her own story (we all do) but compared to her mother she had it easy. I guess this film is about how she comes to realize that. The children of immigrants from anywhere in America will find moments they recognize here.

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