Aside from the grueling physical aspect of the role, Brody gave up everything in his life. He sold his car and apartment, disconnected his phones, and moved to Europe. While the isolation was difficult, Brody said that the emotional effect of starvation was the biggest hurdle for him.
"I was depressed for a year after The Pianist. And I don't suffer from that, generally. It wasn't just a depression; it was a mourning," Brody told IndieWire.