‘The Brutalist’ Star Adrien Brody After His Oscar Win: “It’s An Important Time To Recognize That There’s No Place For Intolerance”
Hot off the pavement from recent wins at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards, Adrian Brody remains the blueprint. The actor, who first scored a Best Actor win in 2003 for The Piano, snagged his second Best Actor Oscar win for Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist on Sunday.
Speaking backstage to press at the Oscars, Brody reflected on the impact of his role during the current political climate, “I think we all know that it’s an important time to recognize that there’s no place for intolerance. I’m oddly receiving recognition for representing a time in history where we witness racism and oppression … [we] must learn from the past.”
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The nearly four-hour epic drama (complete with a 15-minute intermission), co-written by Corbet and Mona Fastvold, follows the complicated rise-to-fame of emigrant Hungarian architect László Toth (Brody), who, while seeking political asylum for himself and his family, runs into a charming but egotistical financier (Guy Pearce) who throws a wrench into his post-war American dreams.
Brody went on to acknowledge the personal history between himself and his character. “It’s been a long journey and a beautiful one and an artistic path. I’ve been working very hard for the past 22 years, but nothing quite connected on this level. I’m so conscious of that. I’m grateful that I had a good fortune of being selected by Brady and Mona to be a part of a very meaningful story ad one that speaks to injustice and not just along the lines of what we discussed, but it;s also quite relevant to consider the lives of others and the lives of people who have the hopes and dreams to be free of oppression and very difficult circumstances abroad.”
The actor continued, referencing his heritage. “My grandparents’ struggles and their loss and their resilience have paved the way for my own good fortune. And I have an opportunity to honor them in this film. The truths and insight that I’ve gained from these hardships of so many people, of many different backgrounds and ethnicities have made me aware of the need for us to be empathetic.”
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