Architecture of the Holocaust and the 60’s American cinema: some of the many layers of The Brutalist (2024)
From the stirring point-of-view shots to the picturesque charm of 1960’s cinema, to the omnipresent reign of a bloodcurdling musical motif and the elegance of showcased fashion and design from the post-war era, the The Brutalist (2024) towers over many recent cinematic pieces.
Plot-wise, it follows the fictional life of László Tóth, a Hungarian-Jewish architect, after he survives the Holocaust and strives to find a new lease of life in a prosperous America in 1947. He is there regrettably met with a more-or-less masked disdain and treated like a peril to the American Catholic ethos itself due to his identity. The turning point of the story is comprised of an unexpected offer from Harrison Lee Van Buren, the archetypal image of the greedy American businessman.
Despite the sheer length of the movie, The Brutalist is a 215-minute mesmerizing painting, an ode to the human spirit and its desire to create, to live, to survive. It does not shy away from desire, hate, aggression, beauty, the need for comfort or the frightful look of suffering, which makes this movie so riveting. With an omnipresent unease, the ominous story of Jew persecution in America unfolds before the eyes of the audience. Its open invitation towards introspection and retrospection is provided by the stark juxtaposition of rich breathtaking imagery (be it a large-scale scenery or a dynamic exploration of dance), the cruel realities of ethnic-based animosity, the quiet luxury and elegant ideals of mid 20th century America hiding sinister truths, proclivity for addiction, and the occasional jocose remarks. Borrowing from the world of architecture, it inspires awe and admiration for man-made beauty and ideas.
One of my favorite aspects of the movie must be the way it is constructed. Due to the plot’s timeline extending over several decades, the filming style and editing seems to borrow from the look of each respective period while incorporating present-time insight, making the audience feel more connected with the past, that is not as distant as it might feel.
To put it into few words, The Brutalist is a multifaceted long-needed masterpiece of great complexity.
Review by Trandafir Cosmina (21 years), 13/2/2025