"I would not know where to begin, Mrs Hoffmann."
Getting away from post-War Europe and forcibly separated from his wife in 1947, Hungarian architect Laszlo Toth (a composite of real-life characters) travels to make a new life in America, and the film follows his journey from struggling immigrant to the subsequent rise, fall and reappraisal in both his architectural and personal worlds. Part American social history lesson and part classic underdog tale, for the most part director Corbet's passion project balances its ambitious scope with the deeply personal tale deftly. Adrien Brody excels in the lead role which is tailor-made for his particular brand of sensitive, haunted character work, with Guy Pearce also a standout in a strong cast as wealthy patron Harrison Lee Van Buren who recognises and nurtures Toth's talent in what becomes an increasingly fractious relationship. Daniel Blumberg's stark score reflects not only Toth's design but also his inner demons to great effect. It is a heavy and difficult film that is not entirely successful in its third act, but it impresses with its scale, ambition and storytelling.
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