In a powerful cinematic narrative, Brady Corbet's latest film, "The Brutalist," delves into the illusionary aspects of the American dream, challenging the notion of freedom and opportunity in the United States. This three-and-a-half-hour movie is inspired by the Brutalist architectural movement of the 1950s and tells the compelling story of Erzsébet Toth, a Hungarian-Jewish architect who survived the Holocaust. The film explores Toth's journey to America, his struggles with antisemitism, and his efforts to build a new life, intertwined with his artistic ambitions.
Corbet, who shares Jewish heritage through his mother, has crafted a deeply personal story that reflects the immigrant experience. Growing up near his grandparents, who faced language barriers and difficulties in finding meaningful work, Corbet witnessed firsthand the challenges of assimilation and cultural preservation. His mother's family encountered antisemitism in the United States, an experience mirrored by Toth's character in the film.
The narrative follows Toth, a brilliant student of the Bauhaus in Germany, as he navigates life in post-war America. He was separated from his wife Erzsébet during the war and holds onto the hope that she will join him in the United States. Toth's experiences depict both overt and covert antisemitism, resonating with historical accounts of Jewish immigrants' struggles during that era.
"Jewish survivors represented a quarter of the people in Displaced Persons camps in Europe, but less than a quarter of those who were allowed entry" – Kushner
The film poignantly showcases Toth's determination to create something lasting and true to his vision, which serves as a metaphor for all artists striving to leave an enduring legacy. Corbet himself relates to this theme, having spent seven years developing "The Brutalist" with writer and partner Mona Fastvold.
"Professional Jews from central or Eastern Europe who emigrated after the war, a lot of them worked as butlers or cleaners, and these people had very sophisticated educations" – Berkowitz
Toth's journey culminates in unveiling his architectural masterpiece in Pennsylvania, a building influenced by his harrowing experiences in Nazi concentration camps. This creation symbolizes both his resilience and the artistic expression of trauma and hope.
"It's easy to talk about antisemitism [as the cause] but it's more complex: in the way universities recruited, women did also not come into this field until quite late; there's only a small number of architects from minorities" – Professor Tony Kushner
Corbet's film highlights how artistic and immigrant experiences often align, revealing the societal pressures faced by those who do not conform to American norms. The director emphasizes that like Brutalist architecture, which was initially misunderstood and unwanted, Toth's presence in America challenges conventional perceptions.
"With Brutalism in the 1950s, when people were erecting these monuments, many people wanted them torn down immediately… Brutalist architecture is representative of something that people do not understand and that they want torn down and ripped away" – Brady Corbet
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