16/30
from March 16, 2023 to May 5, 2023
Plot
When visionary architect László Toth and his wife Erzsébet flee post-war Europe in 1947 to reclaim their heritage and witness the birth of modern America, their lives are forever changed by a mysterious and wealthy client. Filming took place over a total of 34 days. It was shot in Budapest, Hungary and Carrara, Italy. Harrison Lee Van Buren Sr.: When dogs get sick, they often bite the hand of those who feed them until someone puts them down. mercy Bright and bold, "Brutalism" was the name given to a style of modern architecture that flourished in the 50s and 60s. Its sharp angles were formed from humble materials such as rebar and concrete.
László’s odyssey leads to boundless optimism in post-war Philadelphia
Light and shadow danced dramatically across its sheer walls and through its bright windows. In a way, The Brutalist; nominated for multiple Golden Globes, including best drama, is also a work of architecture. If you can get past the title and its three-and-a-half-hour running time, it offers a fascinating look at immigrant aspirations and the American dream (both pros and cons) through a highly stylized lens. Best Actor nominee Adrien Brody gives a penetrating, fearless performance as László Toth, a brilliant Hungarian-Jewish architect who survived the carnage of World War II in his homeland and finds himself at the foot of the Statue of Liberty, hoping to start over. Lady Liberty is turned upside down in the poster, because that’s how she first appears to the immigrants as they emerge from the shipping lanes. His wife Erzsébet (Felicity Jones, another Globe nominee) will follow a few years later, along with their granddaughter Zsófia (Raffey Cassidy).
Eating in kitchens, sleeping in shelters, fighting coal for a living
Meanwhile, the famous creator in his own country is reduced to a humble existence in his new homeland. Crossing paths with the ultra-wealthy businessman Harrison Lee Van Buren Sr. “It will change the fates of both men,” Guy Pierce earned his third Globe nomination for perhaps the best performance of his career. Urban and handsome, the ultimate WASP patrician, Harrison’s soft voice and carefully chosen words are a stark contrast to László’s still-uncomfortable alienation. Although their first meeting is disastrous, Van Buren soon confesses not only admiration but also jealousy. of the immigrant’s genius, hiring him to design a monumental cultural center and memorial to his late father.
and back again
The project will bind them together for years as the monolithic structure slowly climbs the hill on Van Buren Estate. Theirs is a union of opposites, each man with a strong will and an unbridled ego. Their relationship and their family’s also evolves from that of master and hired help, through the bonds of co-workers to the intimacy of siblings… Director/co-writer Brady Corbet seems to share his characters’ great confidence in their own abilities. At 36, his evolution from actor to top-flight director has drawn comparisons to a young Orson Welles’ arrival in Hollywood with the groundbreaking “Citizen Kane.” Considering that “Brutalist” had a budget of less than $10 million, its scope and scale, not to mention its distinctive sense of style, are staggering marvels. Along with Lol Crawley’s stunning cinematography, Brady integrates historical and industrial imagery of the era into the production design.
The film’s soundtrack is also a work of art in its own right
A montage of historical radio broadcasts, commercials, and ambient noises, the songs are expertly curated. Meditating on the price – and reward – of genius, on an even deeper level, The Brutalist; reveals the cost of assimilation.