The Brutalist (2024)

The Brutalist (2024)
Directed by Brady Corbet
Written by Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold
Starring: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn, and more.

The Brutalist is a haunting, epic period drama that weaves together themes of historical trauma, reinvention, and artistic struggle. Set in the aftermath of World War II, it tells the story of László Tóth, a Hungarian-born Jewish architect and Holocaust survivor. After losing his wife and niece in the war, László emigrates to America, where he encounters a series of emotional and professional obstacles. Played by Adrien Brody in a career-defining performance, László’s vision for architectural beauty is shaped by the horrors of his past, leading to both personal and professional turmoil.

The film’s journey begins in 1947, as László arrives in Philadelphia, seeking a new life. He struggles to gain employment, initially working with his cousin Attila, who introduces him to wealthy industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren (played by Guy Pearce). When Harrison commissions László to renovate a study and library for him, tensions rise, as László’s uncompromising vision clashes with Harrison’s expectations. This marks the beginning of László’s fraught relationship with his patron, a relationship that evolves into a complex battle of art versus commerce.

As the years pass, László’s relationships deepen—especially with Harrison, who increasingly manipulates László to further his own legacy. The film explores the brutal realities of their dynamic, revealing Harrison’s darker tendencies, including sexual assault and exploitation. Meanwhile, László’s personal life is shattered by the trauma of his past and his increasing addiction to heroin, a destructive coping mechanism that he shares with Gordon, a man he befriends in the church housing where he lives.

The construction of the community center commissioned by Harrison—the project that will define László’s legacy—becomes the centerpiece of the story. As László struggles to maintain artistic integrity, he is continually thwarted by Harrison’s interference, financial constraints, and legal challenges. The film’s narrative weaves together personal conflict, the harshness of capitalism, and the weight of historical trauma, creating a portrait of a man in the throes of reinvention but haunted by the past.

In the later years, as László becomes increasingly unhinged, his emotional collapse is compounded by the deteriorating health of his wife, Erzsébet, who suffers from osteoporosis. László’s mental and emotional unraveling is depicted with striking intensity, as he grapples with his past and his role in the creation of a monument to a past he cannot escape.

The film culminates in a dramatic and poignant sequence where, after years of silence, Harrison’s disappearance from the narrative leaves a haunting question mark over the fate of his commission and László’s legacy. The story concludes in 1980 with an exhibition in Venice, honoring László’s architectural achievements and the emotional journey that led him to them.

Shot in widescreen VistaVision, The Brutalist is an ambitious and visually arresting film. Its carefully constructed cinematography complements the film’s themes of grandeur, isolation, and emotional decay. Brady Corbet’s direction, along with Mona Fastvold’s screenplay, challenges the viewer to confront the depths of trauma and reinvention, making The Brutalist one of the standout films of 2024.

Critical Reception:
The film premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival, where Brady Corbet received the Silver Lion for Best Direction. It has been praised for its audacity in storytelling and the emotional complexity of its characters. The Brutalist was named one of the top ten films of 2024 by the American Film Institute and garnered seven Golden Globe nominations, including Best Motion Picture – Drama and acting nominations for Brody, Jones, and Pearce.

Epilogue and Legacy:
By the film’s conclusion, we see how the Holocaust, along with László’s intense personal struggles, have informed his greatest architectural achievement—the community center. The Brutalist is both a meditation on history’s impact on the individual and a narrative about beauty, cruelty, and the enduring human spirit.

The Brutalist is a cinematic experience that places singular creativity above commercial franchise formula, offering a new wave of American cinema that resonates with historical depth and poignant human emotion.

Release Info:

• Premiere: Venice International Film Festival, September 1, 2024
• US Release: December 20, 2024 (A24)
• UK Release: January 24, 2025 (Universal Pictures/Focus Features)