Source: Universal PicturesAdrian Brody has been recognised for his performance asHungarian-Jewish architect and Holocaust survivor Lszl TthAdrien Brody has won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of architect Lszl Tth in The Brutalist, marking his second Oscar win after The Pianist in 2003.Directed by Brady Corbet, the film follows Tth, a Hungarian-Jewish architect and Holocaust survivor, as he rebuilds his career in postwar America under the patronage of a wealthy industrialist. Brodys performance has been widely praised, securing him multiple accolades throughout the awards season, including a Golden Globe.The Brutalist has been one of the most talked-about films of the year, centred on its portrayal of architecture and the creative struggles of its protagonist. The character of Lszl Tth is partly inspired by real-life architect Marcel Breuer, a Hungarian-born designer and Bauhaus alumnus who emigrated to the United States.In the film, Tth is depicted as having had a successful career in prewar Hungary and as a graduate of the Bauhaus, but he arrives in early postwar America penniless and alone. He is forced to rebuild his life and career, developing a complex, abusive, and dependent relationship with industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren, played by Guy Pearce.Architects have long been a presence in cinema, often portrayed as solitary visionaries or enigmatic figures. The Fountainhead (1949) presented Gary Coopers Howard Roark as an uncompromising genius battling against convention, while High-Rise (2015) depicted Jeremy Irons Anthony Royal as a detached creator watching his utopian vision unravel. More recently, Whered You Go, Bernadette (2019) followed Cate Blanchetts portrayal of a reclusive, once-brilliant architect struggling to reconnect with her craft.Beyond its success at the Oscars, The Brutalist has sparked debate within the architectural community.Discussions have centered on whether The Brutalist accurately represents the profession.Some architects have criticised its dramatic portrayal of the architectpatron relationship and its suggestion that Tths obsessive creative vision is both his downfall and his legacy. Writing in The Washington Post, architecture critic Philip Kennicott described the film as a mythologised view of the architect as a misunderstood prophet, rather than an engaged practitioner navigating real-world constraints.BDs reviewer, Sarah Simpkin, noted that The Brutalist is less about architecture itself and more about broader themes of power, trauma, and artistic integrity. While some architects have criticised its inaccuracies, she observed that the depiction of the architects lot is credible enough for its narrative purpose, highlighting the films dramatic treatment of real-world concerns such as value engineering, fee negotiations, and the struggle for creative control.>> Also read:Film review: The Brutalist It isnt really about brutalism