In this episode of the TIFF 2024 podcast season, film critic Angelo Muredda joins Alex to discuss Brady Corbet’s 4-hour fictional architect biopic The Brutalist
View all of our TIFF 2024 coverage
In the final installment of our three-part series on the biggest directorial swings at TIFF 2024, Alex Heeney and Toronto film critic Angelo Muredda delve into Brady Corbet’s ambitious yet polarizing film, The Brutalist. This four-hour biopic, shot in Vistavision and designed for 70mm, follows Adrian Brody as a Jewish brutalist architect and Holocaust survivor navigating post-war America. While the film has been hailed as a masterpiece by some for its length and format, Alex and Angelo explore how Corbet’s directorial vision leads to mixed results. They discuss what makes the film intriguing yet frustrating, from its depiction of privilege and power to its handling of disability and artistic creation.
Despite the film’s problems, they still find things to admire, particularly Alessandro Nivola’s compelling portrayal of Brody’s cousin. Throughout the episode, Alex and Angelo reflect on the film’s broader themes, including its exploration of brutalism, the Holocaust, and the precarious nature of art in a capitalist society. They also draw comparisons to other films discussed in the series, Joshua Oppenheimer’s The End and Luca Guadagnino’s Queer, highlighting how The Brutalist stands out—or falls short—among its peers.
Join the conversation as they dissect the film’s grand aesthetic choices and ponder its place in the cinematic landscape. Whether you love or loathe The Brutalist (or haven’t even seen it yet!), this episode promises a thought-provoking discussion on how Big Directorial Choices aren’t enough to sustain a film, much as we may admire them.
A24 (US) and Elevation Pictures (Canada) will release the film in December.
The episode avoids major spoilers.
Show notes on Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist
About the TIFF 2024 season
In the TIFF 2024 season, Editor-in-Chief Alex Heeney will discuss some of the best under-the-radar gems and buzziest films at the festival.
The season is spoiler-free and designed to be listened to even if you haven’t seen the films.
Click here for a link to all of our TIFF 2024 coverage.
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Podcast Credits for TIFF 2024 #9: Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist
This episode was edited, produced, and recorded by Alex Heeney.
Film Critic Angelo Muredda guests on the podcast. Find him on Twitter.
Follow Seventh Row on Twitter and Instagram. Read our articles at seventh-row.com.
Follow Alex Heeney on Twitter and Instagram.
An AI-generated transcript for the episode is available at the bottom of the page.
