The Brutalist
Three-and-a-half-hour epic drama about Jewish architect Lászlo Tóth (Adrien Brody) who begins a new life in America after World War II. Winner of the Silver Lion for best directing at the Venice Film Festival and nominated for ten Oscars.
László Toth arrives in America with barely anything to his name, eagerly hoping to soon be joined by his wife Erzsébet. Settling in Philadelphia, he has a not-so-gracious run-in with Harrison Lee Van Buren, a wealthy businessman, after he becomes an unwitting client for a home renovation scheme. This serendipitous encounter leads to a more complex undertaking, as Van Buren and his son enlist László’s brilliance for a monumental new project. It’s a dream that he never thought he could relive, but it comes with a dark cost, as László sacrifices more and more of himself to complete his exacting vision.
This is the most ambitious project of Corbet – working again with frequent co-writer Mona Fastvold – to date. Brody gives a potent performance as a man trying to reconstruct his life, his love, and his home, all as part of the same process. The Brutalist takes us on a journey that asks some stark questions about how the march of time impacts us, how certain events give shape to our lives, and how much of ourselves we put in our work. (source: www.tiff.net)
Nominated for ten Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director — Brady Corbet, Best Actor — Adrien Brody, Best Supporting Actress — Felicity Jones, Best Supporting Actor — Guy Pearce, and Best Original Screenplay.