Writer/Director: Brady Corbet
Starring: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones and Guy Pearce
‘A Marvellous Period Piece’
The Holocaust is a sensitive subject that’s rarely depicted in movies with respect. 90 years after Hitler’s downfall, it’s proven hard to depict genocide that’s painful to recall. It’s challenging to do justice to true stories of Jewish musicians which survived WWII. On a personal level, I witnessed the impact of genocide on a Jewish professor. Several years ago, I was taught about the Holocaust by a Jewish professor whose parents died in the ghetto. An inspirational teacher, he was dedicated to teaching students about a gruesome mass genocide in which life wasn’t beautiful. He always took pride teaching students about genocide in which his people died. Due to his Jewish identity, my teacher always felt huge responsibility to teach students about genocides in history. I soon discovered that my professor held strong views against films portraying the genocide. He found Cinema an art with limitations which couldn’t capture genocide which tore lives apart. My teacher would complain movies meant to entertain could never capture a genocide that caused pain. It didn’t take long before I bonded with a professor teaching classes about a genocide in which lives faded. He became a guide giving me interest in genocide in whom it was simple for me to confide. When time came to graduate, it was sad to bid farewell to a professor I appreciate. Years later, I treasure a professor that taught me about catastrophic disaster.
As someone treasuring memories of a teacher that loved to list facts about the Holocaust, I adored “The Brutalist”. Released in 2024, Brady Corbet’s movie offered powerful portraits of the genocide. Packed with breathtaking production-design, sharp storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the best movies of the year. At the centre of it all is an extraordinary performance by Adrien Brody, who embodies a Jewish architect struggling to move on from genocide tragedy. Although “The Brutalist” is a commemorated movie, it isn’t flawless. It suffers from an extended running-time that tests viewers’ patience. Nevertheless, it offers heartbreaking entertainment that audiences interested in the Holocaust will definitely appreciate.
Set in post-war Europe, “The Brutalist” follows a Jewish architect struggling to find hope. Adrien Brody portrays Laszlo Toth, a Jewish Holocaust survivor. Laszlo immigrates to the U.S. chasing the American Dream. However, Laszlo’s life changes when he is hired by a wealthy client to create buildings people treasure. Harrison Van Lee Burren (Guy Pearce) is an industrialist that gives Laszlo chances to fulfill his dreams. As Laszlo faces hardships of being a Jew, he questions whether its possible to make his dreams come true.
Brady Corbet is fascinated with WWII history. His directorial debut “Childhood of a Leader” captured a German child growing up to become a fascist leader. With “The Brutalist”, however, Corbet created his first Holocaust drama. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt capturing Jewish architects surviving genocide disasters, but he succeeded tremendously. Evoking Roman Polanski’s “The Pianist”, Corbet effectively uses point-of-view shots capturing hardships a Jewish architect goes through. For instance, point-of-view shots elevate the opening scene. During this heartwarming scene, Laszlo is excited when he enters America seeing the Statue of Liberty. It reminded me of excitement my teacher felt discussing a genocide that he respected. Point-of-view shots are tricky techniques to use in movies. As Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” suggested, point-of-view shots elevate horror movies about sharks. Nevertheless, it works in this movie. Through stunning visuals, Corbet captures the hardships that a commemorated immigrant is experiencing.
Another phenomenal aspect of “The Brutalist” contributing towards its success is production. Corbet successfully uses symbolism to showcase a Jewish immigrant’s struggles to adjust to life in America. For instance, symbolism elevates the hiring scene. During this unforgettable scene, Laszlo is hired by Van Buren to design a building. Through symbolism, Corbet creates a compelling Jewish survivor that audiences can relate to. Symbolism is a tricky technique to use in Holocaust movies. As Quentin Tarantino’s “Inglorious Basterds” suggested, symbolism elevates historical satires about the Holocaust. Nevertheless, it works immensely. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. Daniel Blumbarg’s music is key to the movie’s success. It gives the movie a nerve-wracking atmosphere capturing burdens Jewish immigrants bear. Through production-design, Corbet captures downtrodden Jewish immigrants whose lives decline.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “The Brutalist” is a Holocaust movie that’s compelling. Corbet’s screenwriting strength is his abilities to capture hardships faced by Jewish Holocaust survivors facing tension through silence. Inspired by Steven Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List”, Corbet effectively uses silence to capture the impact of genocide on a Jewish immigrant. For instance, silence elevates the final scene. During this heartbreaking scene, Laszlo questions whether its possible for him to any longer become a successful architect following a tragic accident. It reminded of my silence expressing sadness after I left a university professor that taught me about a genocide whom I deeply respected. Silence is a tricky technique to use in movies. As Jonathan Glazer’s “The Zone of Interest” suggested, silence elevates German movies about the Holocaust. Nevertheless, it works tremendously in this movie. Through a spectacular screenplay, Corbet commemorates a mass genocide which came with a painful price to pay today.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Adrien Brody delivers one of his greatest career performances as Laszlo. Brody achieved appreciation for playing Jewish pianists that survived WWII. With “The Brutalist”, however, he took on his most complex role. It isn’t easy to portray a Jewish architect that survives the Holocaust, but Brody succeeded tremendously. This is the actor unlike you’ve ever seen him before: intense, charismatic and emotional in his most memorable role. With mesmerizing expressions, he captures angst, desperation and trauma of a Jewish architect during the post-war era. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the finest actors working today.
While the movie is mainly a stunning showcase for Adrien Brody, the supporting cast is also worthy of appreciation. Guy Pearce is phenomenal, bringing a strong sense of authority to a wealthy industrialist that plans to create looming buildings which terrify. Felicity Jones is fantastic, capturing the humanity of Laszlo’s wife that grows concerned about her husband’s obsession with work which impacts their family. Lastly, Joe Alwyn merits appreciation. As the son of a prosperous industrialist, he brings tension to the movie.
Finally, “The Brutalist” will earn everyone’s appreciation for capturing genocide. Unlike most movies about the Holocaust, the film tackles themes everyone would relate to. It discusses timely themes including identity, genocide and trauma The film delivers a strong message about immigration which would resonate with everyone. Therefore, “The Brutalist” is one of those rare Holocaust movies which everyone will adore.
Despite its universal appeal, however, “The Brutalist” can’t quite capture the realities of a genocide. If there’s a minor drawback to the movie, it suffers from an extended running time. Corbet’s decision to integrate political subplots into the movie is bold but doesn’t succeed. Due to this faulty decision, scenes capturing Laszlo’s interactions with leaders aren’t as engaging as his immigration. As Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” suggested, political subplots elevate biopics about inventors. Therefore, “The Brutalist” falls short.
Nevertheless, fans of Adrien Brody will appreciate “The Brutalist” and so will movie-goers seeking educational entertainment. A mesmerizing historical masterpiece, it honours Jewish people that survived a genocide which was painful.
A mesmerizing depiction of a frightening mass genocide in which Jewish civilians died, it’s a marvellous reminder that stories about a historical tragedy in Germany that are all too often pushed aside in a country where the Holocaust is denied are worth telling in commemorated movies which leave audiences satisfied.
Nearly 90 years after genocides which caused issues destroying the lives of Jews, it has motivated me to celebrate an inspirational professor that would use the art form of Cinema to change views about the Holocaust whose enlightening classes I will forever treasure for inspiring my passion of writing movie reviews.
4.5/5 stars
The Film Buff 