|
|
|
|
|
For centuries, immigrants have found their way to America, searching for a better life. And the drama The Brutalist tells the story of one man who left behind a remarkable career in Europe and finds himself in a world he doesn’t understand as he tries to make a new life for himself and his family.
The Brutalist stars Adrien Brody as László Tóth, a gifted architect who flees Europe to start a new life in America in 1947. As he waits for his wife and his niece to join him, he finds that the American Dream isn’t as readily available as he once hoped. But then he meets wealthy industrialist Harrison Van Buren (Guy Pearce), who sees László’s talent and commissions him to design a magnificent structure near his home in Pennsylvania. And this grand undertaking takes László and his family on an unexpected journey through the best and worst of their new country.
In following László from his early days in America, sleeping in a supply closet off his cousin’s furniture showroom, to the planning and presentations for Van Buren’s project and into the challenges and roadblocks that he faces along the way, The Brutalist tells an epic story about art and architecture and the immigrant’s fight to do more than just survive in a nation that isn’t as welcoming as advertised. Admittedly, the story isn’t exactly groundbreaking; the immigrant’s story is one that’s been told in numerous films before—yet this film gives it an artistic twist. And Adrien Brody gives a powerful performance as the man struggling to start a new life for himself while dependent on the whims of an increasingly impulsive patron.
What makes the film truly stand out, however, is its stunning visuals. The Brutalist is certainly a work of cinematic art—carefully crafted and beautifully filmed. Director Brady Corbet clearly took the time to get each frame just right. And while the striking cinematography and long, lingering shots definitely add to the film’s rather excessive 215-minute runtime, you can’t help but stop and appreciate the beauty of this epic tale of an artist’s quest for fame and fortune in his new country.
Watching The Brutalist does require a serious time commitment—and a long attention span. And that may scare away more mainstream audiences. But its stunning cinematography and its epic tale of an immigrant’s struggle to find his place in a country that sees him as an inconvenience—and possibly even a threat—makes it a worthwhile commitment for cinephiles.
You can join László on his quest for the American Dream when The Brutalist expands to theaters nationwide on January 17, 2025.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
|
|
|
|
