What is the American dream, and has it changed? Fresh off its plethora of Critics Choice andGolden Globe nominations, A24’sThe Brutalistexplores that question and finally hits theaters this week following a successful festival run in 2024. Its Academy Award-winning leading man is also scooping up a number of Best Lead Actor nods, and rightfully so.Adrien Brodyremains a tour de force in Hollywood, having kept busy on the small screen with various projects of late and also co-starring in every one of Wes Anderson’s features sinceThe Darjeeling Limited. ButThe Brutalistreminds us that the versatile Brody can still more than lead the way in an impactful dramatic film — all 215 minutes of it, if that’s what the daunting task requires.
Yes,The Brutalistis a beast for reasons beyond its epic runtime,deemed “monumental” by criticsfor its historical significance, compelling story, and knockout performances across the board. Brody plays László Tóth, a Hungarian-Jewish architect who immigrates to the U.S. during the post-World War II era. On that note,MovieWeb recently caught up with Brodyto learn more about the history behind his new film and how it ties to his real-life ancestors — who are Hungarian like his character. Brody opened up to us about whether the coveted notion of “the American dream” is perhaps the same today as it was for his elders — or for László inThe Brutalist.
There are horrific circumstances throughout the world that people are needing to find refuge from, including my grandparents and mother fleeing the Revolution of ‘56.
“The hopes of the American dream, I think is — first of all, it’s subjective. It’s personal to every individual,” said Brody, adding:
“But I mean, the dream exists. It’sthe paradox of the immigrant experience, of actually overcoming all that hardship and coming to a country as great as and full of potential as America, and to assimilate and to contribute and to still yet not be treated with the same level of respect or equality.That is what I think the film speaks to. That is still existing, it’s kind of a human condition, but it’s troublesome.”
Related:‘The Brutalist’ Team Filmed a Secret Musical With an Insanely Stacked Cast
Adrien Brody: “There Is Great Potential for Dreams in This Nation”
At the end of the day,The Brutalistis a thoughtful study of the American dream of a certain era, back when Brody’s grandparents once arrived in the U.S. as refugees with hopes of a better life. That situation is still familiar today. Brody continued:
“But there is great potential for dreams in this nation, and unfortunately, there are horrific circumstances throughout the world that people are needing to find refuge from, includingmy grandparents and mother, you know, fleeing the Revolution of ‘56 and all that they’ve endured and overcame for me to have this life as an American citizen.”
‘The Brutalist’ Star Shares Trump Comparisons & Defends Epic Runtime
Guy Pearce says his standout role in A24’s latest film has been compared to Donald Trump. He and costar Felicity Jones defend the 215-minute runtime.
The immigrant experience of László Tóth begins with a harrowing journey overseas that is brilliantly captured in the first act ofThe Brutalist. That’s followed by the visionary’s equally tumultuous journey within the States as he struggles to find success and fortune with his God-given skills. Indeed, it’s no guaranteed easy road once you’ve touched down on American soil from a foreign nation, either in the 1940s or in 2024. From A24,The Brutalistwill be released in select theaters on Friday, Jun 13, 2025.
The Brutalist
Escaping post-war Europe, visionary architect László Toth arrives in America to rebuild his life, his work, and his marriage to his wife Erzsébet after being forced apart during wartime by shifting borders and regimes. On his own in a strange new country, László settles in Pennsylvania, where the wealthy and prominent industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren recognizes his talent for building. But power and legacy come at a heavy cost…
