The Brutalist

Writer/Director: Brady Corbet

Writer: Mona Fastvold

László Tóth is a Jewish immigrant, who having escaped his home country arrives in 1947 United States. He’s a talented well respected architect. But now finds himself alone, separated from his wife (Felicity Jones) and adopted daughter (Raffey Cassidy). His life in America changes when he meets the wealthy Harrison Lee Van Buren (Guy Pearce), who asks László to build a centre to memorialise his late mother. We follow his story, of building his epic masterpiece and all that happens during it.

The Brutalist is as angular, beautiful and impressive as one of László’s great structures.

It’s easy to talk about its epic scale, cinematography and pounding score. Or the fine performances, Adrian Brody is compelling and strongly supported by Pearce, Felicity Jones and Isaach de Bankolé, with an entire cast that is note perfect.

But what makes The Brutalist work is the depth of its story. It’s about the desperation of the displaced and the immigrant experience. It deals with power dynamics, as the powerful play out their follies on the backs of others, pulling dreams away on a whim. It is distinctly in two parts, before and after its intermission. The first, more hopeful about building a life, chasing a dream. The second starts beautifully, but is darker as the reality of the control of the powerful, bites deep. While the second half takes a few stranger turns, it is in its epilogue that is perhaps its most powerful moment, as László’s motive behind his work becomes clear and how he used his art to show defiance.

It is a film to admire, a sweeping cinematic experience, telling an epic powerful story.

The Brutalist is, like its architecture, an impressive piece of filmmaking. It’s a 215 minute epic that looks and sounds great, with a compelling central performance. But it’s the depth it covers that is most impressive. It’s about dreams, oppression, and control. It’s personal and broad. And at its heart is love and defiance. It’s a unique film, that’s worth every one of its 215 minutes.