NEW YORK – Adrien Brody is delivering one of his finest performances yet.

More than two decades after winning an Oscar for “The Pianist,” the 51-year-old actor stands a good chance of receiving another golden award for his impressive role in “The Brutalist,” which premiered at the New York Film Festival on Saturday. This compelling historical drama runs for 3½ hours (including a 15-minute intermission) and follows László Tóth, a Hungarian-Jewish architect portrayed by Brody, who escapes to America post-World War II and arrives in rural Pennsylvania. He faces challenges in finding suitable work until he meets a wealthy businessman (played by Guy Pearce) who hires him to create a luxurious community center.

The film offers a piercing look at America’s darker side, illustrating how the nation often exploits the creativity and culture of immigrants without truly embracing them. During a press conference after an early morning screening, Brody expressed his deep “personal connection” to the story: his mother, photographer Sylvia Plachy, is also a Hungarian immigrant.

Brody reflected, “My grandparents’ experiences were quite similar.” As a young girl, Plachy and her family escaped Budapest during the Hungarian Revolution, first finding refuge in Austria before settling in New York in 1958. Like László, her parents held “great jobs and a lovely home” in Hungary but arrived in the States “starting over and basically broke.”

“I’ve never taken their sacrifices for granted,” Brody remarked. “To be able to portray that journey, which resonates not only with my heritage but with countless others, reflects the complexities associated with being an immigrant in America—these themes hold great significance. I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of this.”

Directed by Brady Corbet (“Vox Lux”) and co-written by Mona Fastvold (“The World to Come”), “Brutalist” draws inspiration from real-life architects like Marcel Breuer, Louis Kahn, and Paul Randolph in developing László’s character. Corbet did not intend to create a direct biography.

“It allows us to explore the past without being confined to specific life rights,” the director explained. “This approach helps evoke the period while giving viewers a broader perspective, rather than focusing on the precise details of one life.”

Despite the film’s vast narrative, covering several decades and locations, it was produced on a surprisingly modest budget of $10 million. In a post-screening discussion, Corbet shared his approach to blending “minimalism and maximalism” through Daniel Blumberg’s striking score and Judy Becker’s imposing yet austere set designs. Brody and Felicity Jones, cast as László’s wife, also elaborated on mastering Hungarian accents and lines.

“My grandparents had very strong accents, much like my character’s,” Brody noted. “I grew up immersed in it. The sound and rhythm of their speech, beyond just the dialect, were strongly imprinted on me, which greatly aided in my performance.”

After receiving critical acclaim at the Venice Film Festival, where it won the Best Director award, “Brutalist” is emerging as a strong contender for upcoming awards, including nominations for best picture, best actor, and supporting actor (for Pearce, who delivers a delightfully entertaining yet menacing performance).

The movie is set to hit theaters on December 20.