Adrien Brody plays Hungarian emigrant in new film, forms deep connection with role

The American film The Brutalist tells the story of László Tóth and his wife, Erzsébet, a Hungarian couple who emigrate to the United States after surviving the Holocaust. Adrien Brody, who takes on the lead role of László, revealed at the Venice Film Festival that his mother’s Hungarian heritage gave him a profound connection to his character, Index reports.

The Venice Film Festival has attracted numerous actors and directors, including Adrien Brody, Guy Pearce, and Felicity Jones, who star in The Brutalist. The film centres on László Tóth, a Jewish architect from Hungary who moves to America in 1947 in pursuit of the American dream. Initially struggling with poverty, László’s life takes a dramatic turn when he secures a life-changing contract with a wealthy and enigmatic client, Harrison Lee Van Buren, played by Guy Pearce.

During the festival, Adrien Brody explained that his connection to the character was influenced by his mother, Sylvia Plachy, a renowned photographer of Hungarian descent.

Adrien Brody said: “She is a wonderful photographer, but also a Hungarian émigré who fled Hungary in 1956 during the Hungarian Revolution. She emigrated to the United States and, like László, rebuilt her life in pursuit of the American dream as an artist.”

Adrien Brody continued, “I deeply understand the impact of the Holocaust on my mother’s life and her artistic work, which parallels the character’s experiences in the film. The movie portrays how war influences creativity and affects all aspects of life, highlighting the psychological journeys that unfold. Although it’s a work of fiction, it feels profoundly real, and it’s important that films like this not only depict history but also remind us of the lessons it holds for our present.”