Sadly Over-hyped

Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

Entertaining from beginning to end, it maintains the spirit of the franchise while establishing it's own seal with a fun cast

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

It's 1965, Zsuzsi Suzanne Sandor (Scarlett Johansson) is 15 and going back to Hungary. Back in the early 50s, her parents publisher Peter (Tony Goldwyn) and Margit (Nastassja Kinski) are in danger in the repressive Hungary and had to flee with their eldest daughter Maria. The plan was for baby Suzanne to be smuggled out to Vienna but Margit's mother has second thoughts about the dangerous plan. She gives Suzanne to a friend's parents to live with in the countryside. She herself is arrested by the police. Years later with the death of Stalin, she is released. Little Suzanne is sent to America with the tireless work of Margit. Suzanne thinks it's just going to be a visit and she would back for school and to her parents she had known all her life. She doesn't adjust well in America with her overprotective mother. As a teen, Suzanne grows up rebellious yearning to return to Hungary and her other parents.The chemistry between Johansson and Kinski is incredible. I'd rather have Scar Jo in more of the movie leaving much of her childhood as flashbacks. The simple linear storytelling is fine and has some great moments. There are compelling scenes like when little Zsuzsi gets lost in the uniformity of the suburbs. Johansson is just a great actress that it would serve the movie to have her throughout the whole film. Of course, the other way to do this movie is to make it about Margit rather than Suzanne. This has some very memorable moments but the switch from childhood to teenager is a little jarring.

I saw this film in a French synchronized version(how I "dislike" this!!)But I know now that I must add this one to my DVD-collection!I recognized the acting of Scarlett again as in The Horse Whisperer, and I was happy to see Natassja acting again in a decent movie. But the performance of Raffaella Banragi was absolutely great!!I'm also grateful that I discovered the music of Marta Sebestyen! Question: does anyone know where the black and white pictures came from (the occupation and terror of the Russians-the hangings and Russian soldiers in the streets),or which historical documentary or National Geographicfilm? Would be great if anyone out there would have the answer! Thank you Girls and Boys!!

I love this movie! Some of the things may not be of Hungarian nature, but I still rate it a 10! Kudos to all the actors! Bravo! Scarlett Johannson is a very talented actress in her own right, as is Tony Goldwyn and Natasha Kinski (forgive me if I spelled her name wrong). This movie made me fall in love with Budapest, as well as Hungary itself. I would love to go see it in person. And the storyline, well, I don't think I could have written it better myself. It's simply an awesome movie with awesome actors and I recommend this movie to anyone; it would make an excellent movie to watch in a World History class in schools or colleges.

This film has many mistakes (Hungary, Budapest in 50ies-60ies). Sometimes i was wondering why main characters don't use the expected language (for example, the parents argued in English, not in their native language; the father greets Zsuzsi in English when she arrives to America, not in Hungarian...). I can't imagine these situations could have happened this way. After all, I really loved this film. It's full of emotions, real feelings, I can understand most of the characters. I can't explain this, the film absolutely preoccupied me. The movie is based on a real story, and I felt it in every moment.