All language subtitles for An American Rhapsody (2001)

[ Young woman ]
It was the summer of 1965.

I was 15 and my life
was already falling apart.

So I came back to Hungary...

Where it all began.

Budapest in the '50s.

The cold war.

Hungary was under the rule
of Stalin and rakosi.

My father used to say
this was a time...

When everybody he knew was
either in jail or going to
jail.

Or worse.

¶ [ Woman singing softly
in Hungarian language ]

[ Baby cooing ]

Margit.

[ Speaking in Hungarian ]

[ Train engine chugging ]

Peter.

[ Man speaking Hungarian ]

[ Hungarian ]

[ Hungarian ]
Peter.

[ Hungarian ]

[ Man shouts in Hungarian ]

[ Passengers chattering ]

Helen.

[ Whispering in Hungarian ]

[ Dog barking ]

[ Dog barking ]

[ Pounding at door ]

[ Pounding continues ]

Helen.

[ Hungarian accent ]
Good morning.
[ With accent ] Good morning.

How are you ?

How are you ?
I am fine, thank you.
How are you ?

I am very fine.
Good morning.

[ Hungarian ]
[ Hungarian ]

Good morning.
Good morning.
How are you ?

I am fine.
Oh, she's fine !

Choose.

That.

Where do you think zsuzsi
is right now ?

[ Margit ]
Here's the hotel.

Thank you.
Very grateful.

¶

[ Peter ]
Excuse me, sir. Where does
one apply for the visas ?

This is the right one.
Inside ?

You must go to the end
of the queue.
This line here ?

Okay, thank you, sir,
very much.

Is zsuzsi
coming today ?

Tonight they are coming.

But it won't be
before you go to sleep.

Won't it be nice to wake up
to your little sister ?

Yes.

[ Knock at door ]

Good day, madame.
It's for you.

Thank you.

[ Crying ]

Mama ?

Mama !
[ Hungarian ]

Hello.

Thank you.

Hoo-hoo.
Hi, papa.

So. They needed
airplane mechanics.

I raised my hand.
Do you know what they gave me ?

Four visas to America !
Maria, did you know
that your father...

Is the cleverest man
in all vienna ?
[ Kissing ]

Gita, look.

Four visas.
One for each of us.

And flowers for the most
beautiful woman in the world.

- [ Yelling ]
I believed you !
- Stop ! What's the matter ?

You liar !
Stop it ! You're
scaring the child.

Get away from her.
You get away from her !

- You don't deserve her
after what you've done !
- I don't understand !

Your cleverness ! All your
cleverness won't fix this !

[ Sobbing ]

[ Clock striking ]

We have to keep going.

The boat leaves from France
in two days.

As soon as we get to America
we'll send for zsuzsi.

At least we know she's safe.
You go. I'm not going
anywhere without her.

We have to get out of here.

Have you gone crazy ?
First we get her.

How, margit ?
How ?

We can't go back.
They'll be watching for us
everywhere in Budapest.

I'm not afraid.
How did this happen ?
I trusted you. I believed you.

I believed you.
You believed me because you
wanted to get out of Hungary.

But not without her.
Did you think there would be
no danger ? No risk ?

We are running out of money.
There is no work here.

We'll never get
another chance.

You want me to leave
my baby ?

She's my baby too.

¶ [ Singing
in Hungarian ]

[ Hungarian ]

[ Hungarian ]

[ Hungarian ]

[ Crying ]

¶ [ Singing ]

¶ [ Continues singing ]

[ Woman singing blues ]
¶ as I walked down the street ¶

¶ seems everyone I meet ¶

¶ [ continues on radio ]

It's difficult
to find a good suit.

You know, they don't eat veal
in this country.

Hamburgers.
Hamburgers !
[ Tray clattering ]

- Be careful.
- I don't mean it. Sorry.

I got a lot of girls
that can do this job.

Please, I have family.
And I have
a business.

It was my mistake.
I was clumsy.
I bumped into her. I'm sorry.

Then be more careful.
You're giving away
all my profit.

- Understand ?
- Yes, Mr. woods.

Break's over !
[ Several men ]
Yes, sir.

Half an hour for lunch !
Finish your lunch. It's the
contracts the company's getting.

Come on. Everything
is so fast in this country.

Nobody stops for life.
Well, starting over
is not easy for anyone.

For margit and I--
losing a child's not--

she's not lost.
Yeah, I know.

I sold two.

One to the German,
believe it or not.

Soon we'll have enough
to move.

Hello, my sweetheart.

From gyuri ?

Oh ! Look at her.

She looks so much like you.

Look at her little arms.
[ Chuckles ]

I never saw her first step.

Or heard her first word.

We are doing
everything we can.

We must keep faith.

All we can do is build a life
here for when she does come.

When ?

[ Margit's voice ]

[ Thinking ]
Dag hammarskjold, secretary
general of the united nations.

Dear Mr. hammarskjold.

My name is margit sandor,
and I am writing to ask you
to please hear my story--

Mr. John singer,
the American red cross.

Dear Mr. singer.
This is the third time--

vice president Richard Nixon.
Dear vice president.

We are a family who recently
escaped from--

¶ [ woman singing opera ]
Senator Barry goldwater.

U.S. house of representatives.

Dear senator goldwater.

¶ [ Singing continues ]

[ Typewriter keys clicking ]

Hello ! Hi !

Hello ?

Welcome to the neighborhood.
I'm dottie.
Hi, I'm pattie.

- Hello.
- What a beautiful chandelier.

It is. Oh, I hope you
like upside-down cake.

Oh, yes, of course.
Of course. Come in, please.

[ Dottie ]
Thank you.

These small cups
are so cute.

They're from my country.
I hear you're from
behind the iron curtain.

Uh, Poland ?
Hungary. It's a neighbor
with Austria.

It must be
very beautiful.
It was.

Oh. Wow. Maggie,
you know Eleanor Roosevelt ?

Nikita khrushchev !

I'm just writing to them
to ask for help for my family.

Help ? Well, what is it,
Maggie ?

Maybe we can help you.

My youngest child, zsuzsi,
was left behind in Hungary.
Oh, no !

She lives with a family
in the country.

My husband says that
the Americans will help us.

So I keep writing them.
Well, they will.
We will.

Mrs. Roosevelt
has a very good heart.

Oh. She's so precious.
How old is she ?

Five and a half years.

Why would they want
a little girl ?

¶ [ Both singing ]

[ Hungarian ]

[ Knock at door ]

[ Fireworks exploding ]

Wow.
Mmm.

[ Maria exclaiming ]
[ Peter ]
Oh, nice.

[ Girls laughing ]
Away from the grill.

Away from the grill.

[ Thinking ]

Helen.

¶ [ Children singing ]

[ Man ]
Zsuzsi !

[ Hungarian ]

[ Hungarian ]

Mm-hmm.

Happy ?

Tonight she will be sleeping
right here.

I will be tucking her in
and kissing her good night...

And telling her
how much I love her.

I'll come home early from
the factory so we get to the
airport in plenty of time. No ?

Okay.

Peter.

What if she's not
on the plane ?

Gita. She'll be here.

What will she be like ?

She'll love you.

Just as much as I do.

What's going on ?

It's so early.
It's early ?

It's 6:00 in the morning,
you lazy girl !
It's time to get up.

[ Zsuzsi reading
to herself ]

[ Woman on p.A. ]
Attention, please. Flight two
from Budapest via London...

Is now arriving.

[ Hungarian ]

[ Peter ]
Welcome.
Zsuzsi.

Welcome home.
Hi.

[ Man ]
Smile, folks.
Look at the camera.

[ Woman on radio ]
¶ tweedley, tweedley
tweedley Dee ¶

¶ I'm as happy as can be ¶

¶ jiminy crickets
jiminy Jack ¶

¶ you make my heart
go clickety-clack ¶

- ¶ tweedley, tweedley ¶
- look ! Here they come !

- Hi !
- Ooh !

¶ Tweedley, tweedley
tweedley dot ¶

¶ how you gonna keep that
honey you got ¶

now can I go to the park ?
No.

What ? Mom,
that's not fair !
Okay, okay, go.

This is ketchup.
It's very good.
All right ?

Um, no, no.
You eat this
with your hands.

It's a hamburger.

A toast
to our family.

Together at last.

[ Hungarian ]

[ Hungarian ]

Cheers.
Cheers.

That's Coca-Cola.
Isn't it good ?

Can you say "Coca-Cola" ?
Coca-Cola.

- [ Laughs ]
Coca-Cola.
- Listen.

[ TV announcer, indistinct ]
That's us. Come !

Welcome home,
Suzanne.

The little girl who had been
kept behind the iron curtain
for six years...

Was reunited
with a happy family today,

thanks to the help
of the American red cross.

After years
of heartbreak and struggle,

the sandor family
is together again.
This is television. TV.

TV.
TV.

TV.
TV.

America welcomes you,
Suzanne.

[ Western on TV ]
This is bubble gum.

You wanna make a bubble ?

You gotta flatten it out first
with your tongue.

That's okay.
You'll get the hang of it.

[ Elvis Presley ]
¶ well, bless my soul
what's wrong with me ¶

¶ I'm itchin' like a man
on a fuzzy tree ¶

¶ my friends say I'm actin'
wild as a bug ¶

¶ I'm in love
I'm all shook up ¶

¶ ooh-ooh-ooh
ooh-ooh ¶

¶ yea, yea, yea ¶

¶ well, my hands are shaky
and my knees are weak ¶

¶ I can't seem to stand
on my own two feet ¶

¶ who do you think of
when you have such luck ¶

¶ I'm in love
I'm all shook up ¶

¶ ooh-ooh-ooh
ooh-ooh ¶

¶ yea, yea, yea ¶
I'll see you
tomorrow.

¶ Well, please don't ask me
what's on my mind ¶

¶ I'm a little mixed up
but I'm feelin' fine ¶

¶ when I'm near that girl
that I love best ¶

¶ my heart beats so
it scares me to death ¶

¶ well, she touched my hand
what a chill I got ¶

¶ her lips are like
a volcano that's hot ¶

¶ I'm proud to say
that she's my buttercup ¶

¶ I'm in love
I'm all shook up ¶

¶ ooh-ooh-ooh
ooh-ooh ¶

¶ yea, yea, yea ¶

I know she wasn't out front.
I'll take the car out
looking for her.

I'll call the police.
The police ?
Gita, stop. No, no, no.

Just wait, just wait.
She'll be fine.

I'll find her.
Just calm down, okay ?

[ Panting ]

Is anything wrong ?

What's your name ?

[ Hungarian ]

See house.

[ Laughs ]
I know who you are.

You're the little communist girl
from czechoslovakia.

I saw you on the news.
I'll take you home.

You like doggies ?
He's my doggie.

This looks just like my house,
but this one's yours.

I bet your mom's been looking
for you.

Oh. Here you go.

[ Hungarian ]

Please don't do that again.

Jeno.

[ Crying ]

Betty, this is my kid sister.

Hi.
Hi.

- Who said you could
play with my stuff ?
- [ Hungarian ]

"Sorry," "sorry" !
Mom said you have to
speak in English.

- Sorry.
- Good.

You have to learn to talk
in English or everybody's
gonna think you're a creep.

Creep ?
Yes, creep. Jerk.

You have to learn
these hip words.

Like when you say something
tastes really good,

you say it tastes like shit.

Shit.

- Yes, that's perfect !
- Yes, that was really good.

¶ Primrose Lane ¶

¶ life's a holiday
on primrose Lane ¶

¶ just a holiday
on primrose Lane ¶

¶ with you ¶

¶ can't explain ¶

¶ when we're walkin' down
the primrose Lane ¶

¶ even roses bloomin'
in the rain ¶

¶ with you ¶

zsuzsi. Zsuzsi.

This would look
so pretty on you.

May I help you,
madam ?

Yes, I want to buy some dresses
for my daughter.

I like cowboy pants.

Blue jeans.
Blue jeans.

I don't know why
little girls in America
want to look like boys. Come.

You look beautiful.

I never go to store.

My mama...
Make my dress.

Zsuzsi,

I'm your mother.

I want you
to call me mama.

Teri and jeno took care of you,
and they love you,

but I'm your mama.

Come here.

[ Male singer ]
¶ life would be a dream ¶

¶ if I could take you up
to paradise up above ¶

hey ! How are you,
my friend ?

Say "cheese."
Cheese.

Not a bad life for
a factory worker, yeah ?
Not bad.

Only in America.
We had these things in Hungary
before you Russians showed up.

Dottie, this is
my friend Frank.

Oh. I've never met
a Russian before.

[ Growls ]

Zsuzsi.

You look so beautiful.

I'm so proud of you,
honey.

They're nice.
So many of them.

Hi, Suzanne.
Oh, Sheila ?

Did you come say "hi"
to Suzanne ?

Say "hi" to Suzanne.
Hi.

Hi.

How are you,
Suzanne ?
I am fine.

You speak English
so well !
Thank you.

Have you tasted
all this wonderful food ?

Yes. It is shit.

[ Peter ]
I'd like to make a toast...

First of all to you,
our friends, who have
come here to share...

In the homecoming of
our youngest daughter,
zsuzsi.

We waited for her
for a very long time.

And to the greatest
country in the world.
To America !

[ Cheering, whistling ]

[ Jeno's voice ]
Zsuzsi !

Great party, huh ?

Mom won't let me go to Betty's
pajama party just because
I taught you some English.

[ Sighs ]

I don't know why
you keep all your stuff
in that old suitcase.

You're not going anywhere.
I go home.

Sorry, but you're in
the good old U.S.A... To stay.

No ! Grandma said
I go back for school !

[ Sighs ]
[ Door slams shut ]

Zsuzsi !

You know, you frightened
your mother and me.

On the day you were born,

your grandmother Helen,
she came to the hospital
and she said to me,

"Peter, you mustn't worry
that you didn't have a son...

"Because when this child
grows up,

she's going to be able
to do all the things
that a man can do."

She was right, zsuzsi.

You can do with your life
anything that you want.

But not in Hungary.

I like Hungary.
So do I.

But... there are
some terrible things
that happened there.

They happened to your mother,
and they happened to me...

And to people that we loved.

We didn't want them
ever to happen to you,
to your sister.

That's why
we came to America.

Why did you leave me ?

It was a mistake.

We never wanted to leave you.
You were our little girl.

I want to go home.

I know you do.

And I know you love
Teri and jeno.

But do you think you could try
to learn to love us too ?

I'll make you a deal.

When you're older,

if you still want to go,
I'll buy you a ticket.

Okay ? But for now,

try to like it here.

Will you do that for me ?

And for your mother.

Is it a deal ?

Okay.

[ Male singer ]
¶ don't let the sun ¶

¶ catch you crying ¶

¶ tonight's the time ¶
[ Suzanne's voice
in Hungarian ]

¶ For your tears ¶
"I miss you
more than ever.

"Summer's finally here,
and the flowers...

Remind me of home."

Good night.
Okay.

I love you so much.

¶ Don't let the sun
catch you crying ¶

[ Sheila ]
Suzanne !

Hey !

Hey.

[ Mumbling ]

¶ And let them know ¶

¶ all your fears ¶
[ Giggling ]

You're gonna have
seven children.
Seven ?

[ Sheila ]
Mmm. Let me see.

Your wife's name
starts with an "s."

Does your mother
always give you a hard time
about going out ?

No, it's not her fault,
you know ?

I mean, she just wants me
to grow up as if
I were in Hungary and--

she just doesn't get it,
you know ?

Were you born in Hungary ?

You bet.
That's cool.

Is that cool ?
Yeah.

"Yeah."
Shut up.

Everybody else is going.

We're not like
everybody else.

That's the problem.

[ Laughing, whooping ]

[ Coughing ]
You okay ?

Whoo !

[ Hungarian ]
Hmm ?

¶ Don't let the sun
catch you crying, oh no ¶

¶ oh, oh, oh ¶

zsuzsanna !

[ Hungarian ]

Where did you and Sheila
go all afternoon
with those boys ?

We went for a drive.
[ Sighs ]

You've been drinking.

Did you let him
touch you or--

I can't believe you
embarrassed me in front
of my friends like that !

That boy's
much too old for you !

I don't want you to ruin your
life !
How do you know what
will ruin my life ?

Do you know what your father
and I had to go through--

yeah, I know !
You walked 20 kilometers...

And you climbed
under barbed wire, right ?

- Yeah, I know.
- You don't know anything.

Hello.

Please don't leave
before we talk to her.

I'll call home tonight.
I'll talk to her then.

This is not something
we can talk about on the phone.
She's going to be fine.

She's growing up.
It's natural.

If you want the truth,
she's exactly like you were.
That's ridiculous !

She's not like me.
You know how children
grow up here ?

Drinking, driving fast
and worse. How would you know ?
You're always busy.

Okay. I'll call you
from Dallas.

Good-bye.

Hey.
Hey.

Your mom says
you can't come out.
She says I have to stay in.

No !
Yeah.

What are you gonna do
about Paul ?

I don't know.
I'll figure it out.

Okay.

See ya.
Bye.

[ Female singer ]
¶ why does the sun
go on shining ¶

¶ why does the sea
rush to shore ¶

[ Suzanne ]
What am I gonna do ?

She's just upset
because she thinks
you're gonna run away again.

No, I know,
but I didn't run away.
I just went out.

When's dad coming home ?

Ahh, not till
the end of the week.
Hmm.

But you know mom.
Just apologize, be nice...

And she'll calm down.

Yeah, but it's always
been easier for you.

No. No, it wasn't.

It's always been about you.

And no matter what I did,
it was never enough.

That's why I can't wait
to get married
and get out of here.

[ Door opens ]

Darling,
I don't want to fight.

So I want you
to make me a promise.

You want me
to make you a promise ?

Yes.

Good night.

[ Door closes ]

[ Dog barking ]

¶ [ Teri singing
in Hungarian ]

[ Door opens ]

Where were you
all night ?

Hmm ?

You were with that boy again,
weren't you ?
Yeah. His name is Paul.

Zsuzsi, girls don't
stay out all night...
Your age.

You understand that ?

You understand that ?
Why would I listen to you ?

I don't want you
to do this again !
Ever !

You never let me
do anything anyway !
I hate you !

[ Door closes ]

[ Phone ringing ]
[ Crying ]

[ Ringing continues ]

[ Horn honks ]

[ Hammering ]

[ Hammering
continues ]

I won't let you
ruin your life.

[ Suzanne pounding on door ]

[ Group ]
¶ the Mountain's high
and the valley's so deep ¶

¶ can't get across
to the other side ¶

¶ don't you give up, baby
don't you cry ¶

¶ don't you give up
till I reach the other side ¶

[ child laughing ]

[ Hungarian ]

Get dressed and
clean up your room, please.

- When dad calls,
can I talk to him ?
- [ Knocking at window ]

Oh, no.
Wha--

if you come back,
I'll call the police !
What are you doing ?

I'm doing what's best for you.
Listen to me.

How do you know
what's best for me ?
I'm your mother !

According to you !
I didn't see you for the
first six years of my life !

What kind of mother
is that ?
One that loves you !

What kind of mother--
get off of me !

- [ Door locks ]
- Mom !

Mom, open the door !

Open the door !

Mom, please open the door !

[ Vacuum cleaner whirring ]

[ Suzanne ]
Mom !

Mom !

Mom, open the door !

[ Vacuuming continues ]

[ Rifle shots ]

[ Screaming ]
No, no, no !

[ Sighs ]

[ Door opens, closes ]

Here's your coffee.
Thank you.

[ Sighs ]

I wanted to say
I was sorry.

This episode--
it could've ruined your life.

You might have
killed someone.
I'm sorry.

Have some breakfast.
We'll talk.

I think I know
what I have to do.

I've been thinking about it
since that night
in the park and...

I think I have to go
to Budapest.

- To Budapest ?
- That's ridiculous.

Mom, I can't explain
why I have to go,
I just have to go.

Completely out of the question.
When you finish high school...

And you show us that you know
how to behave, then you can go.
I have to go now !

This is just another
of your crazy ideas !
You're just a child !

I am not a child !
Why do you always say that ?

You don't even know
who I am.

What are you thinking ?
You can't go to Europe
by yourself.

I came from Budapest
when I was a little kid.

Do you think what
you went through last night
was terrible ?

Do you know that in Hungary
people disappear
for saying the wrong word ?

And you shoot up
your room !

I'm not going to talk about it.
I'm not going to discuss it.
It's ridiculous !

[ Door slams shut ]

Dad, do you remember
when I came to America
and I ran away ?

Then you made that promise.

In the park.

We shook hands.

I need you to keep
your promise, dad.

Please.

[ Whistle blowing ]

[ Woman on p.A.
In Hungarian ]

[ Chattering in Hungarian ]

Zsuzsi ?

Zsuzsi.

[ Hungarian ]

[ Hungarian ]

What bridge is that ?
It's the chain bridge.

Don't you remember ?
When you left home
with your grandmother,

I tell you about it.
I remember.

Mmm.

We say "budapesht,"
not "Budapest."

Budapest.
"Budapesht."

"Budapesht."
"Sht. Sht."

How long have you
lived here ?
Five years.

Really ?
Mm-hmm.

It's nice.
Ahh.

[ Hungarian ]
I am back with
a very grown-up young lady.

Zsuzsi.
Mama.

Mama.

Zsuzsi.
[ Sobbing ]

Zsuzsi, my little girl.

My daughter.

[ Bell tolling ]

[ Tolling continues ]

[ Knocking at window ]

¶ [ Woman singing
in Hungarian ]

¶ [ Singing continues ]

[ Chattering ]

[ Hungarian ]

[ Hungarian ]
Please eat.

This was always
your favorite.

I used to hide my favorite
chicks when I was little
so they wouldn't get cooked.

I know.

Do you miss
the country ?

Now that little house
you grew up in
is a summer place...

For a government
big shot.

Can they do that,
just take your house away ?
Hmph !

They can,
and they did.

But after you were gone,

it was better for us
to move away.

But now you've come home.

At last.

[ Hungarian ]
Good morning.

I have to go.
Where are you going ?

I'm going to see
my grandmother.

I have to.

I have to.
I'm sorry.

This is my friend Paul.

Mmm. He is very handsome.

¶

I used to walk here
with your mother...

When she was a little girl.

The gypsies played
their violins...

While their children
begged for money.

Your mother gave them
all my coins.
[ Laughs ]

What's wrong ?

An old lady can see things
in people's faces.

Mom didn't want me
to come,

especially to see
Teri and jeno.

Now that I'm here,
it's so hard.

They've been
so good to me,

and they've been
so hurt.

I guess I just make
everybody unhappy.

Budapest is such
a beautiful place.

Why did mom
hate it so much ?

Mmm.

It was wise of you
to come.

Your mother was
our only child.

Your grandfather
loved her so.

He was so proud of her.

One night during the war,

we were sitting
in this very cafe.

[ Helen ]
There were some
Russian soldiers.

They were very drunk.

They shot him
right in front of us.

Grandfather fell
right on top of your mother,

his blood
pouring onto her.

[ No audible dialogue ]

My husband was dead.

And your mother
made it her goal
to get out of Hungary...

And go to America.

She wanted her children
to live in a better world.

Do you enjoy your stay
in Budapest ?

I'm happy to be here
with you.

Your visit has been
a great gift to us.

It was good of your parents
to let you come here.

I have to go.

I have to go home.

It's funny,
but all these years I felt
like I didn't belong anywhere.

I thought maybe I belonged
in Hungary, but--

and I love being here.

I love you.

But this is no longer
my home.

How many people
live here now ?

Mmm, ten or twelve.

A different family lives
in each of our rooms.

They share the bathroom
and the kitchen.
Hmm.

Was it very awful ?

Prison ?
Mm-hmm.

First I thought
I wouldn't survive.

But one day I began to play
a game in my head.

I began make up stories
for you and Maria--

stories about princesses,
castles, magic.

I hoped that I would
one day tell you.

You risked everything
for me.

What do I do ?

I think you know.

We all made mistakes
out of love.

Okay ?

[ Woman on p.A.
In Hungarian ]

I could send for you.

Dad would help me.
He would.
And mom would too.

My other mom.

Our traveling days
are over.

But you are young
and you must enjoy
every moment of life.

Are you sure
you're gonna be okay ?
We will be fine.

You made me very happy.

Zsuzsi, please
don't forget us.

I won't.

[ Hungarian ]

It was an amazing trip.

I'm glad.
I'm glad you went.

You are ?

I'm proud of you.

You're a brave girl.

You're brave.

Why didn't you tell me ?

I just wanted to leave it
all behind me.

I was frightened.

I wanted to protect you.

I understand.

You know, since you left,
I understood something too.

That we are who we are
because of our past.

You know,
you taught me that.

Hi, mom.

Hi, my daughter.

You're so beautiful.

[ Hungarian ]

[ Hungarian ]
My darling.

Hey.

Hey.

¶

¶ [ singing in Hungarian ]