"Why didn't you defend yourself?"

The film feels like one of László Tóth's buildings. It's nice and polished while still being different and unique. It's jagged and crooked but it's so purposeful that it doesn't feel rough.

The whole style, from the upside down shot of the statue of liberty (perhaps alluding to the way the film turns the "American Dream" upside down) to the 45 degree angle end credits, feels like it is made by its main character. It feels so...modern (yet also like the 1950s).

Tóth as an architect plays the role of a film director on a set, ordering everyone around and trying to keep his artistic vision while feeling financial pressure.

"Why didn't you defend yourself?"

Because he couldn't. László Tóth survived the Holocaust by not defending himself. He was a victim of such horrible atrocities that every setback in America seems almost irrelevant. When confronted about things, he remains silent. As does his neice, Zsófia. People think she is strange for this, but her silence is how she survived. The only one in their family who is willing to be confrontational is Erzsébet, László's wife.

László forms an interesting relationship with millionaire Harrison Lee Van Buren. Despite their initial interaction involving Harrison yelling at László for remodeling his library, he grows an appreciation for Tóth's work (or at least of the reception that the library got). Harrison appoints László as an architect for a community center and become a modern Medici-Michelangelo of sorts. Although they encounter many obstacles, it finally looks like it is going to get built. But I can't stop thinking about the first thing that Harrison told László:

"Why didn't you defend yourself?"

And then Harrison, seeing that László doesn't defend himself, rapes him, metaphorically and literally. Rape as a metaphor is a strong and risky choice but it's executed so well that it somehow works. Harrison literally rapes László and while perhaps it is of a sexual nature, it seems as though it is more Harrison trying to maintain power and control over a defenseless man. Harrison has just used László and then casted him off, like a "woman of the night."

"Why didn't you defend yourself?"