An American Rhapsody

PG-13

Released Jun 20, 2001

1h 42m

Drama

List

56%

Tomatometer

61 Reviews

66%

Audience Score

2,500+ Ratings

Amidst the shadows and secrets of Communist Hungary, one family's desperate escape plan goes terribly wrong. By dark of night, the family attempts a daring getaway, sneaking over the heavily armed border, but at an unthinkable price - their infant daughter is mistakenly left behind. From a new writer/director who lived through the astonishing events depicted in this film, comes a highly personal odyssey of a fierce young woman's bitter exile and hard-won redemption.

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Critics Consensus

Though obviously a labor of love, American Rhapsody is an uneven, heavy-handed effort, particularly in the second half.

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Jay Carr

Boston Globe

An American Rhapsody, in its straightforward way, earns its emotions.

Sep 14, 2001

Full Review

Susan Stark

Detroit News

An American Rhapsody speaks from the heart to the heart.

Sep 7, 2001

Full Review

Terry Lawson

Detroit Free Press

This should be a fascinating story, but An American Rhapsody never develops a melody or a rhythm, much less the epiphany the title suggests.

Sep 7, 2001

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

A heartfelt coming of age tale of an Hungarian-American adolescent, well acted by Scarlett Johansson

Rated: C+

Jun 27, 2011

Full Review

Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

In spite of the movie's inflated title, writer/director Eva Gardos tells an emotionally charged story of Hungarian immigration that is touching and historically accurate.

Rated: B

Apr 15, 2009

Full Review

MaryAnn Johanson

Flick Filosopher

Not too many movies touch me so much that I need to retreat to somewhere private and sob my eyes out - this was one of them. Enormously poignant...

Nov 19, 2008

Full Review

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Michael T

A good story. A little slow developing until the main character gets old enough to be taken over by the 15 yr old Scarlett Johannson. She carries the second half ably and the movie is saved.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/23/23

Full Review

Steve D

The script never captures the power of the story.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I was impressed. Captured the feel of the times. Historical but not a documentary. A moving story. Well acted. Fairly big budget placing you in the 1950s.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A little slow developing however realistic on how one escaped the Iron Curtain to come to Freedom of USA. It makes me think how do people do it? My grandfather who fought against Gen. Franco in Spain always said "freedom beats that s o b any day."

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Emotional movie with great scenes. Beautiful cinematography. Bravo. I wonder why the low score on Rotten Tomatoes?

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A beautiful story eloquently told. Not an easy story to tell, I think, but the movie avoids all pitfalls and compels with honesty and simplicity...kudos to the director.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

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Éva Gárdos

Director

Nastassja Kinski

Margit

Scarlett Johansson

Suzanne (at 15)

Tony Goldwyn

Peter

Ágnes Bánfalvy

Helen

Zsuzsa Czinkoczi

Teri

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Synopsis

Amidst the shadows and secrets of Communist Hungary, one family's desperate escape plan goes terribly wrong. By dark of night, the family attempts a daring getaway, sneaking over the heavily armed border, but at an unthinkable price - their infant daughter is mistakenly left behind. From a new writer/director who lived through the astonishing events depicted in this film, comes a highly personal odyssey of a fierce young woman's bitter exile and hard-won redemption.

Director: Éva Gárdos
Producer: Colleen Camp, Bonnie Timmermann
Screenwriter: Éva Gárdos
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Fireworks Pictures, Seven Arts Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Thematic Material|Some Violent Content)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 20, 2001, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $850.0K
Runtime: 1h 42m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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