The film "O Brutalista" directed by Brady Corbet is one of the strongest contenders for the 2025 Oscar, competing across ten categories, including Best Picture. The film follows László Tóth, played by Adrien Brody, a Jewish architect who escapes post-World War II Europe to start anew in the United States. Despite its modest budget of $9.6 million, the movie has captured the attention of the Academy for both its poignant story and its innovative use of technology. It was filmed using Vistavision—offering greater resolution than the standard 3:4 format—and released in 70mm prints, marking the first time such techniques have been employed in American cinema for over six decades.
Set against the backdrop of the American immigrant experience, "O Brutalista" delves deep beyond the classic narrative of triumph and success. Instead, it portrays the painful truth of immigration where the reality often reflects not just hope, but also resistance and the weight of past traumas. Felicity Jones, who plays Erzsébet Tóth, László’s wife, explains, "The abuse is central, along with trauma, and how people cope with it as they try to rebuild their lives." Jones's performance has garnered significant acclaim since its debut at the Venice Film Festival, where it was previously lauded by critics.
Through Erzsébet’s complex character, viewers witness her fight to maintain dignity amid the struggles of redefining her identity and confronting the remnants of her past. Jones elaborates, "Erzsébet knows she can’t live in the past, but she cannot ignore it either." This internal conflict between ambition and morality runs through the film, creating powerful relations between characters driven by idealism and pragmatism.
At the core of the film is László, whose ambition to create monumental structures follows deep-rooted motivations shaped by his history of suffering. His first major assignment under the wealthy businessman, Harrison Van Buren, played by Guy Pearce, signifies László's hope for acceptance and acknowledgment, juxtaposed against the ignorance of American privilege.
The film also gained artistic insight from the presence of Adrien’s mother, Sylvia Plachy, who herself escaped from concentration camps, echoing the characters' journeys and enriching the story's authenticity. Brady Corbet noted, "They flee fascism only to fall back to the arms of capitalism," drawing attention to the duality of their experiences.
The extensive preparation required for Jones to embody Erzsébet entailed perfecting not just the Hungarian language but also ensuring her accent felt organic. "The biggest challenge was making sure the accent and language didn’t feel forced. You have to be wholly immersed to convince the audience," she shared.
This year’s Oscar race appears to favor actors like Zoe Saldaña ("Emilia Pérez") and Ariana Grande ("Wicked") alongside Jones; nevertheless, her wide-ranging talent is unmistakable through her past films such as "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" and “The Theory of Everything"—the latter earning her first Academy Award nomination.
On the other hand, alongside notable performances, the controversial use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) during the film’s production has stirred significant discourse within the industry. David Jancsó, the film editor, admitted to utilizing AI-driven software to modify voice performances and to create architectural designs featured prominently throughout the film. These technical advancements have sparked debates about authenticity versus innovation, especially as Adrien Brody and Jones find themselves nominated for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress respectively.
Even as "O Brutalista" prepares for the Academy Awards set for March 2nd, the film vibrantly encapsulates the immigrant struggle, paralleling current socio-political climates where xenophobia and cultural mistrust loom large. Critics have praised the film for its genuine narrative on identity, survival, and resilience.
The contentious dialogue around AI also reflects broader transitions within artistic expressions and the entertainment industry. Films are navigated incredibly differently today due to the influences of technology, raising fundamental questions: What is the future of art when juxtaposed with machines capable of performing creative tasks traditionally reserved for human expression? Could we one day witness the inception of categories for AI-generated works at the Oscars?
Despite the controversies, Corbet’s film stands as one of the most ambitious cinematic achievements of the season, dedicated to the exploration of human depth and the vexing reality of artistic endeavor. Once set to screen on February 20th, "O Brutalista" promises to leave audiences reflecting on the power of trauma and the challenges of living between two worlds. It is not merely about the architecture of buildings but about the construction of identity against multifaceted backdrops of adversity.
Through this weighty narrative, "O Brutalista" not only has its eyes on Oscar gold but also serves as a poignant reminder of the struggles faced by those forced to navigate tumultuous waters of identity, belonging, and self-realization.