The first trailer has arrived for The Brutalist, a 3.5-hour, Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones-starring biographical drama that’s shaping up to be one of the most anticipated films of the season. Watch above.
The Brutalist follows the journey of László Toth (Brody), a visionary architect who escapes post-war Europe with his wife Erzsébet (Jones), seeking to rebuild their lives after being separated by the upheaval of shifting borders and regimes. Arriving in 1947 America, László finds himself in an unfamiliar land, eventually settling in Pennsylvania. It is here that he catches the attention of wealthy industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren (played by Guy Pearce), who recognises his extraordinary talent for architecture. However, as László begins to design an ambitious brutalist structure for his enigmatic benefactor, he quickly discovers that power and legacy come with significant sacrifices.
The film comes from actor-turned-filmmaker Brady Corbet, known for his work on Vox Lux, The Childhood of a Leader, and mini-series The Crowded Room. He co-wrote the script with Mona Fastvold, his real-life partner. The film’s producers include Nick Gordon, Andrew Lauren, and Trevor Matthews, among others. Executive producers include Mark Lampert and Christine Vachon.
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The supporting cast includes Joe Alwyn, Raffey Cassidy, Stacy Martin, Isaach De Bankolé, Alessandro Nivola, Ariane Labed, and Jonathan Hyde.
The film’s production journey was not without challenges. With a $10 million budget – a very modest budget for a film of this size – Corbet spent seven years assembling the financing. “We cut every corner we could to make sure that every single cent was on screen,” Corbet said in an interview with Variety. “It was a Herculean effort, and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone, because it was just years and years of essentially working for free.” The Brutalist was shot on VistaVision 35mm film stock and completed on 70mm, adding what some praising critics have described as a distinct visual grandeur to a sprawling narrative.
Since its premiere at the 81st Venice Film Festival, The Brutalist has received widespread acclaim, currently holding an impressive 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This could be one to look out for come Oscar season.
The Brutalist is set for a limited US release on December 20th and will be in Australian cinemas on January 23rd, 2025.
