Writer/Director: Brady Corbet
Starring: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones and Guy Pearce
‘A Magnificent Artwork’
The Holocaust is a sensitive subject which is seldom ever depicted in movies with respect. Ever since Hitler’s downfall, it’s proven to be challenging for filmmakers to depict a mass genocide that’s hard to recall. No matter how hard it has often tried, Hollywood has often struggled to depict mass genocides in which people died. It isn’t easy to do justice to the stories of Jewish musicians that miraculously survived WWII. Movies have rarely captured harsh realities of a genocide in which Jewish people rarely saved by lists faced tragedies. When portraying the Holocaust on the big-screen, filmmakers always fall prey towards common stereotypes. It’s often easier said than done to depict a mass genocide which caused destruction. Portraying the genocide often requires filmmakers to strike a balance between entertainment value and historical accuracy. It’s a tricky balance that few if any movies are able to successfully achieve. For these reasons, it’s rare to see portraits of the Holocaust in commemorated films today that are historically accurate.
In an industry that has often failed to portray a genocide with consequences that are missed, it’s worth praising “The Brutalist”. Released in 2024, Brady Corbet’s movie captured the life of a Jewish immigrant struggling to move on in life from the Holocaust. Packed with stunning production design, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the best movies of the year. At the centre of it all is a powerful performance by Adrien Brody, who portrays a Jewish survivor of the Holocaust struggling to live in Europe. Ultimately, what makes “The Brutalist” a powerful film is its message. The film delivers a meaningful message regarding childhood trauma that will definitely resonate with everyone. Unlike most movies about The Holocaust, it tackles strong themes everyone would relate to. Although “The Brutalist” is a brutally engaging period piece, it isn’t flawless. At over three hours, it suffers from an extended running-time that tests the viewer’s patience. Nevertheless, it is one of my favourite films of the year. A mesmerizing period piece about the Holocaust, there are many reasons why “The Brutalist” is a movie that’s worth watching.
Set in post-war Europe, “The Brutalist” tells a story of a Jewish immigrant that struggles to adjust in life in America. Adrien Brody portrays Lazslo Toth, a visionary architect with dreams of being a successful artist. After managing to survive the Holocaust through a sheer miracle, Lazslo migrates to America with big dreams of being successful. Lazslo has always had love for being an architect being a profession that has shaped his identity. When he’s recruited by the industrialist Harrison Lee (Guy Pearce) in the city, Laszlo’s dreams come true. However, Lazslo’s hopes of becoming a commemorated architect are destroyed by a painful disaster. Discovering the cost of being an immigrant in America, Lazslo faced a dilemma. Faced with a tough scenario, Lazslo begins to wonder if it is truly possible for him to recover from a mass genocide causing sorrow. As all the odds are stacked against his favour, Lazslo begins to wonder whether he will ever fulfill his dreams of being a successful architect. Haunted by a traumatizing genocide, Lazslo wonders if it’s possible to adjust toward life in a country that leaves him terrified.
Brady Corbet is fascinated with the theme of immigration. His award-winning movie “The Childhood of a Leader” depicted the life of a young American boy struggling to adjust to a life in France. With “The Brutalist”, however, Corbet made his first historical drama. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture lives of Jewish architects that survived mass genocide disaster; but he succeeded. Through stunning cinematography, Corbet captures a Hungarian Jewish immigrant struggling to adjust towards life in a foreign country. Visually, the movie is a feast for the eyes which is as breathtaking as buildings that Lazslow seeks to conceptualize. Inspired with Roman Polanski’s “The Pianist”, Corbet effectively uses point-of-view shots to capture the experience of a Jewish immigrant struggling to recover from a painful genocide. Throughout the film, Corbet successfully uses point-of-view shots to capture the perspective of a Jewish survivor experiencing a Holocaust. For instance, point-of-view shots enhance the opening scene. During this frightening scene, Lazslow recounts grim memories of surviving the Holocaust. One appreciates point of view shots capturing hardship commemorated Jewish survivors of Holocaust go through. Point of view shots are tricky techniques to use in movies. As Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” suggested, point-of-view shoes elevate commemorated horror films about scary sharks. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through captivating visuals, Corbet captures hardships a Jewish survivor of the Holocaust is facing.
Another phenomenal aspect of “The Brutalist” which contributes to its success is production. From a technical perspective, the movie is very well made. Corbet successfully uses costumes to showcase a Jewish immigrant’s struggles to adjust to life in America. Throughout the film, costumes demonstrate a Jewish immigrant’s transformation into an architect. For instance, costumes elevate the hiring scene. During this unforgettable scene, Lazslow is hired by the renowned industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren to design a building. One admired costumes capturing the transformation that Hungarian Jews which survive the Holocaust go through. Through stunning costumes, Corbet creates a compelling Jewish survivor that audiences can easily relate to. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. Daniel Blumbarg’s music is key to the movie’s success. It gives the movie a tense atmosphere capturing painful burdens Jewish immigrants in genocide bear. Through strong production-design, Corbet captures hardships experienced by Jewish immigrants whose lives decline.
Storytelling is one of the key reasons why “The Brutalist” is a film about the Holocaust that is compelling. The film is beautifully written, and effectively uses symbolism to capture lives of Jewish prisoners. Throughout the film, Corbet effectively employs symbolism of buildings to showcase tension faced by Jewish immigrants. Evoking Steven Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List”, Corbet effectively uses symbolism to capture reactions to the Holocaust. For instance, this symbolism elevates the warfare scene. During this unforgettable scene, Lazslow delivers an emotional speech explaining his ideas for a building in architecture. One appreciates the strong symbolism of buildings capturing the hardships that Jewish architects are enduring. Symbolism is a tricky technique to use in films. As Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining” suggested, symbolism classic horror films about isolation. As was suggested by Frank Darabont’s “The Shawshank Redemption”, symbolism elevates prison dramas. Nevertheless, it works very well in this movie. Through a fantastic screenplay, Corbet captures the lives of Jewish architects seeking to find a way to be successful with a price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Adrien Brody delivers one of his finest career performances as Lazslow. Brody achieved appreciation for portraying Jewish pianists that survived painful ghettos in WWII. With “The Brutalist”, however, he took on his most brutal role. It isn’t easy to portray a Jewish architect that struggles to adjust towards life in post-war America, but he succeeded. This is the actor unlike you’ve ever seen him before: intense, charismatic and emotional in his most iconic role. It’s a role that demonstrated the actor’s strength for playing powerful Jewish characters. With captivating expressions, he conveys the angst, desperation and trauma of a Jewish architect struggling to adjust toward life in America. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the most commemorated actors in Hollywood today.
While the movie is mainly a stunning showcase for Adrien Brody, the supporting cast a superb and worthy of recognition. Guy Pearce is great, capturing the ambition of a millionaire seeking assistance from architects to create buildings which satisfy. Felicity Jones is extraordinary, bringing humanity to a disabled woman that’s which is trapped in a broken marriage with a Jewish architect which faced tragedy. Lastly, Joe Allyn merits appreciations. As Harrison’s son, he brings heartfelt emotion towards the movie.
Finally, “The Brutalist” would earn appreciation of everyone for capturing lives of Jews facing danger that’s painful. Unlike most films about the Holocaust, it tackles strong themes which everyone would relate to. The movie discusses universal themes including identity, childhood trauma and racism which would resonate with everyone. It delivers a strong message about genocides that would resonate with everyone. Therefore, “The Brutalist” is one of those rare movies about the genocide which everyone will adore.
Despite its universal appeal, however, “The Brutalist” can’t quite capture brutality of a genocide causing catastrophe. If there’s a minor drawback to the movie, it suffers from a lengthy running time. At nearly 3 and a half hours, the movie suffers from an extended length. Corbet’s decision to integrate subplots about political leaders into the movie is bold but doesn’t succeed. Due to this decision, scenes capturing Laslow’s political dealings aren’t as engaging as his journey to adjust to life in America. Therefore, “The Brutalist” falls short.
Nevertheless fans of Adrien Brody will admire The Brutalist and so will movie-goers which seek educational entertainment. A riveting historical piece of art, it honours a genocide which tore lives apart.
Nearly 90 years after a frightening mass genocide that forever changed the world causing consequences in history which proved long-lasting, it’s a riveting reminder about the power of Cinema as an educational art-form that can teach audiences about a terrifying historical disaster in which some Jews overcame catastrophes whose inspiring stories of survival that are all-too-often ignored forgotten in pages of history books are worth celebrating.
4.5/5 stars
The Film Buff 