Rights holder / Distributor: A24
The Brutalist (The Brutalist) is a large-scale historical drama of Brady Corbett, which tells the story of ambition, talent and the cost of building a new life after World War II. The script was written by Brady Corbett and Mona Fastvold, and the main roles are Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones and Guy Pearce. The story begins in 1947, when Hungarian architect Laszlo Toth arrives in the United States after experiencing the horrors of war and is forced to start his life over. The film is set for a U.S. theatrical release on January 24, 2025, although production is set for a 2024 film.
Plot
Laszlo Toth is a talented architect from Europe who arrives in Pennsylvania hoping to find freedom and the opportunity to continue his professional work. However, the war has left a deep mark on him, and the new world proves to be far different from the one he knew. As he tries to build a career from scratch, he faces prejudice, economic hardship, and the need to constantly prove his worth.
His fate changes when his talent attracts the attention of wealthy industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren. He sees in the architect an opportunity to realize an ambitious project that will become his legacy. Gradually, the relationship between the two begins to become complicated, as questions of power, dependence, and the personal cost of success emerge behind the professional partnership.
As he rises professionally, Laszlo tries to reconnect with his wife, Erzsébet, from whom he was separated during the war. His family becomes another important part of his quest to rebuild his life. The story gradually moves beyond architecture and becomes a story about a man trying to build not just a building, but a new identity and place in society.
Directing
Brady Corbett creates a film of unusually large scale and very serious ambitions. "„The Brutalist“" takes its time telling its story and uses its 216-minute runtime to follow the changes in Laszlo's life in detail. This allows the director to pay attention to both the architectural projects and the relationships between the characters.
Visual style is an essential part of impact. The operator Lol Crowley uses widescreen compositions and carefully selected shots that emphasize both the scale of the architecture and the protagonist's sense of loneliness. The architectural spaces gradually begin to function as a reflection of Laszlo's inner state - beautiful, imposing, and at the same time cold and oppressive.
Corbett doesn't present the American dream as an easy path to success. On the contrary, the film constantly questions what a person must sacrifice to achieve recognition. The relationship between art and power is one of the main themes, and architecture becomes a vehicle for conversation about class differences, migration, and human ambition.
Acting
Adrien Brody gives one of the strongest performances of his career as Laszlo Toth. He builds a character who rarely shows his emotions directly, but behind the restrained demeanor is felt immense pain, pride and a desire to prove his own worth. The actor manages to show both the architect's intellectual strength and his vulnerability.
Felicity Jones is convincing as Erzsébet, a woman who also bears the consequences of the war and refuses to be a mere addition to her husband's story. Her presence gradually gains in importance and creates a necessary balance to László's obsession with his work.
Guy Pearce is particularly strong as Harrison Lee Van Buren. His character has charm and confidence, but behind them gradually reveals a man who is used to getting what he wants. The relationship between him and Laszlo is among the most tense elements of the film.
In supporting roles, they stand out Joe Alvin, Rafey Cassidy, Stacey Martin, Isaac de Bankole and Alessandro Nivola, which complement the complex world around the main character.
Conclusion
„The Brutalist“" is an ambitious historical drama that uses the story of an architect to speak to much larger themes – migration, the trauma of war, the American dream, class differences and the price of personal success. It is not an easy film to watch, but it is its seriousness and scale that sets it apart from more conventional historical dramas.
The three-and-a-half-hour runtime can be a challenge, especially for viewers who prefer a faster pace. At the same time, the large time span allows the story to gradually build its characters and relationships. The architecture, music, and visual style work together to create a sense of epicness without the film losing its intimate focus on Laszlo.
For fans of serious historical movies „The Brutalist“" is a production that deserves attention. Among contemporary dramatic movies It stands out for its unusual length, its large-scale direction, and its strong performance. Adrien Brody. This is a story about a man who wants to leave a mark, but gradually realizes that every great legacy has its price.
