Brady Corbet has a great vision to restore visual spectacle that is worthy of all the decorations and acknowledgement it has earned. ‘The Brutalist’ carves out an exhilarating showcase of how the American Soil in a way gave the required space for a person like László Tóth (Adrien Brody) who escapes concentration camp and gets a better start in the west with his cousin who hosts him, finds him a body of work that although drains László puts him on the path of restoring whatever hope he has left.
‘The Brutalist’ Plot and Premise
Post the World War 2 Climate, A Holocaust Survivor László Tóth (Brody) finds a crack and slips into the US soil where his cousin awaits bearing the hopeful news of the survival of László’s wife Erzsébet (Felicity Jones) and his niece Zsófia in Hungary. While László gets a job that only leaves emptiness and space for recurring trauma. After years of finding no hope with addiction and a dreary job at hand, no signs of news from his wife or niece, László is found by Harry Lee Van Buren, a wealthy socialite who wants to renovate a library for his wealthy industrialist father. A proud Bauhaus Alum and a famous architect in Europe, László is hired by the pompous and arrogant Harry Lee Van Buren to impress his father and extend his legacy through the community centre.
A vision to believe in. Brady Corbet's monumental 10x Academy Award nominated #TheBrutalist is now playing in theaters everywhere. pic.twitter.com/bWUKOM4dQX
— The Brutalist (@thebrutalistmov) February 14, 2025
Themes and Symbols
Themes like, The American Dream or Myth, A Freedom within Capitalism, Escaping Trauma to Rebuild Future, Cementing Characters, Brutal environment for Survival and many makes ‘The Brutalist’ one of a kind marvel. László and Erzsébet’s relationship and their reconnect after years of separation by unknown political forces sustains on the trembling platform of what the American Dream is supposed to be.
Symbols like the upside down Statue of Liberty that stands tall as a symbol of hope, liberty and life ahead are just a misconception of those who had somehow made it work in the US. The reality of immigrants who are in a plightful nightmare in an unknown land that is discussed in Part 1: The Enigma of Arrival, based on V.S Naipal’s novel of the same title.
Juxtaposing the true Identity and taking pride in one’s own heritage, culture through the contrasting characters of Atilla and László where the former adapts to the American norm and even converts to marry an american, László’s indestructible conviction and passion towards art and not negotiating with compromising his talent or family in the face of adversity, racism and sheathed wolfish praises.
The Brutalist as a whole offers several impactful and powerful themes of lives of immigrants who although has one foot through the door had to endure some sort of abuse, disdain or act of hatred even to survive and showcase their talents that is at the end of the day needed and demanded by the Americans or anyone of high power.
What The Brutalist could have used or portrayed more of is Erzsébet and her grappling, brave wisdom that serves as a lighthouse at times and a fiery outburst in confronting Buren of his venomous acts, something that could have flourished from first half, only presented for the satisfaction of the audience in the second half.
As said by László, “Such a life down here and we are still here”, The Brutalist as the architectural trend of the 50s or while referencing to the cruel life of László where is dragged, beaten, abused and put to the worst and lowest of his fears yet at the end “It is the destination, not the journey” that matters resonates a profound lesson.
97th Oscars Nomination List is Out! Here’s the full nominees and the categories to root and vote for
‘The Brutalist’ encompasses passion, hope, resilience, bravery and above all true jest for art and creating something that is close to the experiences and true to the genius of the fatigued and traumatised mind. A worthy 10 Oscar Nominee, Adrien Brody, a powerful competitor with a high chance of bagging several.
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