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The Brutalist, directed by Brady Corbet, was one of the most visually and emotionally striking films of the year, winning three Academy Awards at the 97th Oscars:
🏆 Best Actor – Adrien Brody (The Brutalist)
🏆 Best Cinematography – Lol Crawley (The Brutalist)
🏆 Best Original Score – Daniel Blumberg (The Brutalist)
A powerful tale of art, ambition, and exile, the film follows László Tóth (Adrien Brody), a Hungarian-Jewish architect who emigrates to the United States in pursuit of his architectural vision, only to face unexpected obstacles. The Brutalist is as much about the imposing structures of Brutalist architecture as it is about the rigid expectations and power dynamics that shape the protagonist’s life. The film’s meticulously chosen locations reflect themes of alienation, ambition, and identity, with grand, concrete-heavy settings acting almost as a silent character.
Here’s a closer look at the striking locations that frame The Brutalist’s compelling narrative.
1. Budapest, Hungary: The Architect’s Origins
The film begins in post-war Budapest, capturing the historical and cultural weight that shapes László Tóth’s early career. The city’s mix of decaying pre-war structures and Communist-era modernism establishes the contrast between his aspirations and reality.
- Kelenföld Power Station: This vast industrial facility, with its exposed steel and stark concrete walls, serves as an early visual influence on Tóth’s architectural vision.
- Memento Park: A location filled with statues of Soviet-era figures, reinforcing the ideological constraints Tóth seeks to escape.
- Historic Apartment Blocks: The film uses authentic, crumbling 1950s housing projects to depict the challenging post-war conditions that Tóth leaves behind.
2. New York City: A Land of Opportunity and Isolation
Tóth’s journey takes him to New York City, where towering structures symbolize both progress and alienation.
- The Ford Foundation Building: This Brutalist masterpiece represents the stark modernism that both inspires and confines Tóth.
- Roosevelt Island: Known for its isolated feel and Brutalist housing developments, this location reflects the emotional detachment Tóth experiences in his new environment.
- The Met Breuer (former Whitney Museum of American Art): The sharp angles and heavy concrete of this iconic building visually mirror Tóth’s rigid creative philosophy.
3. Boston & Washington, D.C.: The Rise of an Architect
As Tóth’s career takes off, The Brutalist moves into the corridors of power and prestige, capturing the influence of institutional architecture.
- Boston City Hall: A quintessential example of Brutalist design, this government building reflects the cold, bureaucratic reality of Tóth’s professional ascent.
- J. Edgar Hoover Building (FBI Headquarters, Washington, D.C.): Another monolithic, Brutalist landmark, symbolizing the tension between creativity and authority.
4. London & Berlin: A World Rebuilt in Concrete
The film’s later acts take Tóth to Europe, where post-war reconstruction has embraced Brutalist ideals.
- The Barbican Centre (London): A massive Brutalist complex, reflecting the ambition and alienation of modern architecture.
- Berlin’s Karl-Marx-Allee: With its imposing, symmetrical concrete buildings, this setting underscores the film’s exploration of power and artistic compromise.
5. Eastern Europe: Abandoned Visions of the Future
To capture the grandeur and decay of unfinished Brutalist projects, the production team ventured into Poland and the Czech Republic.
- Hotel Forum (Kraków, Poland): An abandoned Communist-era hotel, emphasizing the transient nature of architectural dreams.
- Zlín, Czech Republic: A planned city of functionalist design, serving as a metaphor for Tóth’s ultimate vision.
With its Oscar-winning cinematography by Lol Crawley, The Brutalist transforms its locations into monuments of ambition and alienation. Each setting reflects László Tóth’s internal struggles, mirroring his journey from idealistic young architect to a man caught between artistic vision and harsh reality.
Brady Corbet’s masterful direction, Daniel Blumberg’s hauntingly minimalist score, and Adrien Brody’s Oscar-winning performance create a film where concrete is not just a building material—it is the weight of history, power, and unfulfilled dreams.
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