50/31
Appears in The 7PM Project: Episode from December 10, 2024 (2024)
Synopsis
When visionary architect László Toth and his wife Erzsébet flee post-war Europe in 1947 to rebuild their legacy and witness the birth of modern America, their lives are changed forever by a mysterious, wealthy client. Filming took place over a total of 34 days, from March 16 to May 5, 2023, on location in Budapest, Hungary, and Carrara, Italy. Harrison Lee Van Buren Sr.: When dogs get sick, they often bite the hand of those who fed them until someone puts them to sleep.
A Hungarian-Jewish architect narrowly escapes post-war Europe for America, hoping to build a new life for his family
In his new country, his troubled career takes a few ups and downs before he is taken under the wing of a watchful, wealthy Pennsylvania industrialist who admires his work and eventually hires him to realize part of his own vision. Adrien Brody gives one of his best performances as Laszlo Toth, a hard-working and determined immigrant hoping to turn over a new leaf and rebuild his legacy, both literally and figuratively. But it’s Guy Pearce who almost steals the film with his fierce and charismatic performance as the aristocrat who gives Toth a second chance at work as an architect.
Ultimately, he’s likeable but complex
He easily shifts from compassion to vengeance. Brody’s character is certainly not a paragon of virtue. He struggles with drug addiction, sometimes disrespects the chain of command, teeters on the edge of madness, and even turns on some of his closest friends in moments of great stress.
Director Brady Corbet provides a rich sense of historical context
The only criticism of the film is that it offers only the vaguest idea of what this pioneering architect did in the long run. It focuses mainly on his first and most ambitious project for this capricious employer and all the troubles that entailed. Nevertheless, it is one of the best epics in recent memory and enthusiastically recommended for its excellent work in every respect.