Is The Brutalist Based On A True Story? The Real-Life Inspirations Behind László Tóth

by

2024 saw “The Brutalist,” directed by Brady Corbet, shine brightly among the year’s films. In her glowing 10/10 review for Looper, Audrey Fox hailed it as a “fresh perspective on the American epic film,” predicting that its impact would be felt in cinema for years to come. The movie garnered an impressive ten Academy Award nominations and took home three Oscars – for original score, cinematography, and Adrien Brody’s captivating portrayal of László Tóth, a Hungarian Jewish architect who found refuge in America following the Holocaust. As a fan, I can’t wait to see what this masterpiece continues to contribute to the world of cinema!

Some viewers were left questioning if “The Brutalist” was a genuine tale due to the convincing performance by Brody and the film’s meticulous production. The 70mm roadshow screenings added to this confusion by distributing brochures about László Tóth’s life, creating an impression of authenticity. However, despite the possibility it might seem — it isn’t. In reality, “The Brutalist” is a work of fiction created by Corbet and Mona Fastvold. While they took inspiration from various real individuals and incidents for their script, it lacks the close connection to any specific influence to be considered based on a true story.

Is László Tóth a real person?

In actuality, there wasn’t a brutalist architect named László Tóth. Instead, the character portrayed in “The Brutalist” is a composite of several mid-20th century architects like Marcel Breuer, László Moholy-Nagy, Paul Rudolph, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and Louis Kahn. Director Brady Corbet revealed to USA Today that the book “Marcel Breuer and a Committee of Twelve Plan a Church: A Monastic Memoir,” authored by Hilary Thimmesh, served as one of the primary influences for the movie’s narrative. The real-life Marcel Breuer and the fictional László Tóth share similarities such as both being Jewish architects who faced discrimination while working on Christian church projects in America.

In contrast, all the architects mentioned earlier moved to America prior to World War II, whereas Tóth came after. The filmmakers focused on finding architects who endured concentration camps, yet mostly discovered those who didn’t survive. Judy Becker drew inspiration for Tóth’s work from the artists who perished during the Holocaust. Mona Fastvold stated, “Our intention was to honor them; if someone experienced a situation like our protagonist, we aimed to be sensitive in our portrayal. However, we couldn’t find anyone (similar to Tóth).

What did architects think about The Brutalist?

The similarities and differences between László Tóth’s story and Marcel Breuer’s, as portrayed in “The Brutalist,” has sparked debates among architects. It can be disheartening when entertainment about a specialized field like architecture doesn’t get the details right; much like crime scene investigators have criticized “NCIS,” some architects have expressed strong criticism towards “The Brutalist.

Concerns have been expressed about how the movie portrays the architect as an isolated, inflexible genius – a stereotype that may create thrilling storylines but overlooks the fact that architecture is a profession centered around teamwork and adaptability. The movie’s conclusion, which takes place at the 1980 Venice Architecture Biennale, has drawn criticism for significantly altering the actual feel of the event. In contrast to the lavish praise showered on Tóth in the epilogue, brutalism was no longer popular in architecture during that time and wouldn’t regain appreciation until many years later.

What did historians think about The Brutalist?

Although “The Brutalist” architectural approach received mixed-to-negative feedback from experts, historians have generally had a more favorable response towards the film. The movie isn’t so much about architecture itself, but rather it employs architecture as a tool to delve into various other themes such as the American Dream, immigrant struggles, antisemitism, and the tension between art and capitalism.

Michael Berkowitz, a Jewish history professor, stated to BBC that “The Brutalist” is, in certain aspects, more historically accurate as a work of fiction than many supposedly factual accounts. He pointed out how the film effectively underscored the pervasive nature of antisemitism in 1940s America. László Tóth’s story resonates with Adrien Brody, reflecting the authentic experiences of his Hungarian immigrant relatives. “There was a lot I could personally identify with,” the actor shared with BBC, referring to his mother and grandparents’ struggles of escaping war hardships in the 1950s and immigrating to the United States, as well as his artistic ambition to create something meaningful with his work.

Read More

2025-04-21 23:30