Following a wave of Golden Globe nominations, Corbet's Oscar-worthy film — a three-and-a-half-hour epic — tells the story of architect László Toth (Adrien Brody) and his wife Erzsébet (Felicity Jones) as they flee the horrors of the Holocaust to pursue the American Dream in post-war Philadelphia. The film has already garnered praise for its impressive cast, monumental scope, and a sweeping, Great American storytelling style reminiscent of ‘There Will Be Blood’. Now, with the release of the full trailer from A24, we get our first look at what promises to be one of the most significant films of 2025. Check it out below:
Shot in VistaVision and set to be showcased in stunning 70mm at select theaters nationwide, ‘The Brutalist’ indeed looks grand in its initial presentation. The trailer introduces us to Brody's Austro-Hungarian architect László Toth as he escapes the horrors of World War II in search of new beginnings in the self-proclaimed Land of Hope and Glory. This first look reveals Toth's past intertwined with his aspirations as he creates brutalist structures designed to withstand the ravages of war, striving to establish himself in a nation that often feels unwelcoming to foreigners.
“Perhaps you can try and help your husband sound less like he shines shoes for a wage,” scoffs Guy Pearce's sly industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren. As the film explores the emotional spectrum, balancing the grandiosity of architecture with profound human experiences—each with their own intricate designs and frameworks — we can expect Toth, as portrayed by Brody, to grapple with myriad conflicts, showcasing a range of emotions from laughter to despair and, ultimately, triumph.
Here’s the official synopsis for the film: “Escaping post-war Europe, visionary architect László Toth (Brody) arrives in America to rebuild his life, work, and marriage to his wife Erzsébet (Jones) after being torn apart during wartime by shifting borders and regimes. Alone in a strange new land, László settles in Pennsylvania, where he catches the eye of wealthy industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren (Guy Pearce), who recognizes his architectural talent. However, power and legacy come at a steep price…”
With all the excitement surrounding ‘The Brutalist’, we eagerly anticipate what Brady Corbet, co-screenwriter Mona Fastvold, and their talented team have crafted when the film arrives in theaters on January 24, 2025.
