The Brutalist, directed by Brady Corbet

New York: A24 Films LLC and Saint Laurent, 2025. 201 min.

Abstract

The film The Brutalist (2024) is a story about a Hungarian architect named László Tóth (played by Adrien Brody), who moves to America after surviving the Holocaust. He is hired by a rich man, Harrison Van Buren, to build a community centre. The film portrays László’s struggles, both as an immigrant and as an artist, working under powerful people. The story connects his life to the architectural style of brutalism—known for its rough, plain concrete buildings—and uses it as a symbol for his tough and emotional journey. László’s wife, Erzsébet, appears to him like a ghost, reminding him of his past and giving him strength. The film also explores how America treats immigrants, how the rich often use artists for their own gain, and how personal pride can be both powerful and harmful. Inspired by real architect Marcel Breuer, the movie is more about human strength and survival than about buildings. It shows that things we once disliked—like brutalist buildings—can later be seen as valuable, just like people who are misunderstood at first but prove their worth over time.