Plot

A visionary architect flees post-war Europe in 1947 for a brighter future in the United States and finds his life forever changed by a wealthy client.

When visionary architect László Toth and his wife Erzsébet flee Europe to rebuild their legacy and witness the birth of modern America, their lives are changed forever by a mysterious and wealthy client. The seemingly charming industrialist Harrison Van Buren offers László and his family the American Dream on a silver platter by commissioning him to design a grand modernist monument and help shape the landscape of the country he now calls home. It will be the most ambitious project of his career, one that will take László and Erzsébet to both monumental heights and devastating lows.—Filmdienst

Escaping post-war Europe, visionary architect László Toth arrives in America to rebuild his life, his work, and his marriage to his wife Erzsébet after being forced apart during wartime by shifting borders and regimes. On his own in a strange new country, László settles in Pennsylvania, where the wealthy and prominent industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren recognizes his talent for building. But power and legacy come at a heavy cost.—A24 Films

Having left everything behind, Hungarian-Jewish Holocaust survivor László Tóth immigrates to the United States. But life is hard when you don't belong; all the uprooted Brutalist architect finds waiting for him is shovelling mountains of coal in cold Philadelphia. However, when László puts everything on the line in the hope of unleashing his creativity, he catches the attention of a temperamental millionaire benefactor willing to give him a shot at materialising his ambitious grand vision. The project is challenging, and the stakes are higher than ever. Yet, what good is talent when the fabled American Dream seems nothing more than wishful thinking?—Nick Riganas

After surviving the Holocaust, Hungarian-Jewish architect László Tóth emigrated to the United States after being forcibly separated from his wife, Erzsébet, and niece, Zsófia, in Budapest during World War II. He goes to Philadelphia, where he is given permission to stay with his his immigrant cousin, Attila and his American wife, Audrey while he searches for work.

In 1947, László assists his cousin in his furniture business. His son Harry surprises his father while he is away on business by asking him and Attila to renovate the study and library of wealthy industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren. Harrison is so upset about the condition of the renovations when he gets home that he tells László and Attila to leave without paying them for the materials and labor. Afterwards, after Audrey accuses László of pursuing her, Attila sadly requests that he leave his house.

Years later, while residing in a church's charitable housing, László makes friends with Gordon, an impoverished African-American father who is having a hard time raising his young son. Gordon learns that László is secretly smoking heroin prior to their risky collaboration at a shipyard. Harrison eventually finds László and informs him that the architectural community has praised his state-of-the-art study/library. The money he pays László for the library renovation is used to purchase heroin with Gordon.

Harrison invites László to a party, where he is greeted as a distinguished guest but is also aware of teasing and whispering. Harrison commissions László to build a community center in honor of his late mother that includes a library, theater, gymnasium, and chapel after learning about his background as a successful architect in Europe and his desire to leave a lasting legacy. Work starts right away, with László living and working on the property and hiring Gordon, who has also developed into a fully functional heroin addict. The immigration of Erzsébet and Zsófia to the United States is accelerated for László's services by Harrison's personal attorney.

Part 2: The Hard Core of Beauty

When Laszlo first meets Erzsebet and Zsofia at the train station in 1953, he learns that Erzsebet has osteoporosis and is now a full-time wheelchair user, and Zsofia has become mute as a result of the conditions and traumas endured during the war and its aftermath. When Laszlo discovers that the materials and design of the center have been altered without his consent, he clashes with the other developers. Even though László plans to pay for the supplies he needs to realize his vision, Harry tells him to keep his distance, claiming he is only "tolerated," and he makes obscene sexual references to Zsofia, whom László advises not to approach, even though he may have already abused her. Later on, the train that was transporting László's supplies derails and crashes, seriously wounding two brakemen. Due to the anticipated legal fees and the higher cost of transporting the materials, Harrison decides to stop the construction and fires László and all laborers.

Years later, Laszlo and Erzsebet are city dwellers who work for a New York City architecture firm. Zsofia has overcome her muteness and is now expecting a child with her new, devout Jewish husband. She informs her aunt and uncle that they are moving to Jerusalem in the then-new state of Israel, and she tries in vain to convince them to come with her. Harrison contacts László one day to inform him that if they forego the library at his community center in order to cover the legal expenses related to the train accident, they can complete the building on schedule and within budget.

In order to secure the stone required to complete the building, Laszlo contacts an old Italian ally whose antifascist militia has taken control of a Carrara quarry. Harrison rapes Lázsló in the quarry as a show of dominance and reprimands him for wasting his potential after getting wasted at a party the night before they depart for America. After they return, a more tense and traumatized László begins to lose it. In addition to firing his friend Gordon, making a scene in front of his wife, and skipping a developer meeting, he angrily yells at a worker who is playing on the scaffolding.

When Erzsebet runs out of painkillers for her osteoporosis, Lászlo begins injecting her with heroin, and one night she nearly overdoses. Laszlo concurs with her suggestion that Zsofia and her family relocate to Jerusalem after growing tired of America.

Erzsebet accuses Harrison of rape in front of his children and coworkers one evening when she pays him a visit at home. While Harry brutally abuses her and carries her out of the house, his sister Maggie takes care of her. By the time Harry gets back to the dinner table, the guests have left and Harrison is no longer there.

Epilogue

Erzsebet passed away in 1980, and an exhibition honoring Laszlo's contributions over the years-including the community center, whose construction was finally finished more than ten years after it had been put on hold-was held in Venice. In a speech, a now-adult Zsofia emphasizes how Laszlo's works were influenced by their experience with the Holocaust. "No matter what the others try to sell you, it is the destination, not the journey," she concludes, reciting a quote from Laszlo.