My husband and I often enjoy watching movies late at night once our little kids go to bed. The other night, my husband chose An American Rhapsody, which I had heard of, but never seen. An American Rhapsody is an old American classic. The movie is written and directed by Eva Gardos, and based on her real-life story. This movie is the story of Suzanne, representing Eva, who is separated from her family as they successfully escape Hungary and the boundary of the Iron curtain. If you have not seen this movie, but would like to without spoilers, pause your reading here and watch the movie on Prime video.
Synopsis:
The story opens up with Suzanne, played by Scarlett Johansson, walking on a bridge in Hungary. She is talking about the moment her life fell apart. We are then shown her mother, father, and older sister escaping Hungary. The scene is very tense and harrowing, but they succeed in their escape. Unfortunately, baby Suzanne is left behind with her grandmother. They were unable to take her with them, but they left with the promise that she would join them at the border within a few days of their escape. This unfortunately does not not happen, and Suzanne is trapped in Hungary.
A sweet farming couple takes her in and raises her as their own. The problem is, this family is living under the false notion that Suzanne’s family won’t fight to get her to America. They spend 6 years together, all of Suzanne’s childhood so far, living together as a family on their lovely little farm. But then, much to their dismay, Suzanne is whisked away to America to be with her family.
Suzanne’s family is emotional and overjoyed to have her return to their family. After 6 long years of waiting, writing to public officials, and fighting for their daughter to return home, she does.
This transition doesn’t go as smoothly as Suzanne’s parents hope. Suzanne doesn’t speak English and only wants to return to her guardians in Hungary. The cultural transition is painful for Suzanne, and she misses her old life and family. I am not a transcultural adoptee, but this movie brought forward some of the issues I have heard of in these situations. Even though this movie depicts a planned reunification, as Suzanne is placed back in her biological family, the adoption comparisons are all over the place.
So many of the emotions that Suzanne expressed in the movie were the same emotions I have had as an adoptee.
Later in the movie, Suzanne returns to Hungary to visit her former guardians. At this point, she is an older teen who has experienced much chaos in her home. She hasn’t bonded with her biological family and all she wants is to return home to Hungary. When she does, she is overjoyed to reunite with her former guardians and they with her. She then learns that the Hungarian government took over their farm and forced them into a small apartment in the city.
As she learns about her home country’s political turmoil, she begins to realize why her parents left for America. The entire experience of getting back to her roots makes her realize that America is the best place to be. Any hope of a future lies ahead in America with her biological family. When she returns to her parents, she thanks them for making the difficult journey to America and for bringing her to her new home. The family conflict is resolved, and she is happy to be with them.
Adoption Connections
Although An American Rhapsody doesn’t portray a traditional adoption, many adoptees may resonate with the story of separation, reunification, complicated family dynamics, and the search for identity. The desire to get back to our roots is strong for many adoptees. The need to learn our history and how we got to where we are is important.
Suzanne needed to get back to her roots in order to appreciate everything her parents had been through. It took more than just the stories her parents told her. It took her placing herself in Hungary and experiencing the hardships first hand. Without the knowledge, Suzanne had no real understanding of her parents’ decision.
Knowledge of our past is important in adoption. There isn’t always room for an open adoption, but there is for openness in adoption. Adoptive parents should be real and honest with their adopted children. Kids can understand a lot of truth if it is presented at an age-appropriate level.
I personally experienced a lot of the same emotions that Suzanne portrayed in An American Rhapsody through my own adoption journey. I was adopted as a 6-week-old infant in the late 90’s. My adoption was very closed. It was so closed in fact that I didn’t even know I was adopted until I was 8 years old. Even when I found out I was adopted, I was given very little information regarding my birth parents or the circumstances surrounding the situation. The topic was taboo in my house and it made members of my adoptive family uncomfortable. Their lack of ability to handle the topic then, in turn, made me uncomfortable. The situation was messy and straining.
Due to the secrecy, I struggled a lot growing up. I didn’t have answers to very basic questions, and the topic of adoption was off the table. Fast forward a few years and I decided to meet my biological family. All went well, I got answers, and my adoptive family was happy with my decision. The knowledge I gained healed parts of me that were sad, broken, and longing for answers. I only wish that I had been allotted the respect and honesty regarding my adoption throughout my entire life.
Adoption is tricky. As an adoptee, and older sister to four children who were also adopted, I know that. If I were to adopt today, I would choose to be open with my child from day one. Being open makes adoption normal, healthy, and even happy. Adoption is a massively huge and fundamental part of an adopted person’s identity. Even if we don’t want it to be, it is.We should never be ashamed, embarrassed, or scared to discuss our adoption history. After all, it’s our story, as the adoptee.
An American Rhapsody so beautifully displayed common adoptee feelings and emotions. Scarlett Johansson at such a young age so beautifully portrayed the confusing nature that adoption can take on. She was able to express the desire for knowledge surrounding one’s story and the feeling of being torn between two worlds. Even myself as a private infant adoptee, still felt these kinds of emotions growing up. Even before I knew I was adopted, I knew.
Adoption isn’t meant to be a secret, and deep down inside all adoptees know that there is something special about us. In order for adoption to be celebrated, it has to be known about. Even though this movie was not a direct take on adoption, I highly encourage members of the adoption triad to watch it. Adoptive parents might get a glimpse into what their child is feeling or will feel someday as they grow up.
