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Short filmTranscript
00:00Cinéfilos, I need you to pay close attention to what I'm going to say next, because yes, I'm going to repeat it throughout the video, but it doesn't matter because this is the first time, the most important, and it's going to be recorded.
00:11The Brutalist is one of the best, best movies of our times. Yes, yes. And this is a work that has all the elements, narrative, technical, and above all artistic, necessary to transcend in time as a reference.
00:29Not only of cinema, but of art as a powerful form of expression. And it is that this film invites us to reflect on the feeling of alienation, loneliness, and unhappiness, even when the situations seem to be in our favor.
00:45Let's talk today about this film, which has 10 nominations for the Oscar, and which finally reached movie theaters, called... The Brutalist.
01:00Cinéfilos and cinéfilas, welcome to Out of Focus. I am Gaby Mesa with Z, and I am very happy to share with you my analysis, my criticism of this film, called The Brutalist, which, as many of you know, contains an intermediate.
01:11And many people, in fact, have asked me, ah, but I don't know if my cinema is going to have an intermediate, or if my country is going to have an intermediate.
01:18Don't worry, it does have an intermediate. The intermediate is not something that the cinema of your preference decides, ah, how are we going to put the intermediate, here in the middle, or a little later.
01:25No, the intermediate is already included as part of the film's footage, it is conceived as part of the story, and that also tells us how the director thought that this was a whole experience.
01:36So the intermediate is not just for you to pee, or buy popcorn, and so on, but it is for you to live that cinematographic experience.
01:43So if you already had the opportunity to do it, please let me know in the comments what you thought of this great, spectacular film, your favorite of the awards season, or very boring, you didn't connect and it became eternal.
01:55Whatever your most honest opinion is, please let me know below in the comments, which, as always, I will be reading them.
02:02In this film we will meet Laszlo Toth. He is a Hungarian-born architect who arrives in the United States fleeing the horrors of World War II, horrors that he lived in his own flesh.
02:14And although this new country, with the promise of the American dream, initially gives him hope for a better life, he will soon discover that the place he intended to call home is nothing more than a hostile terrain,
02:28where success has a price and freedom could be just an illusion.
02:33Throughout the story we will see the lack of belonging that Laszlo experiences, the struggle to maintain the dignity that they tried to take away from him, and the confrontation of a reality that brought with it new obstacles.
02:46And cinephiles, now listen to this phrase.
02:49No one is more enslaved than those who falsely believe to be free.
02:55And if you are some scholars who study, you have probably already associated this phrase with the poet Goethe.
03:01I didn't, I didn't know. But it appears in the film, now I know it, and why am I mentioning this to you?
03:06Well, because this phrase is quoted in a letter by Laszlo's wife named Erzebet, and it is heard in the first moments of the film where we are witnesses of two scenes that could not be more different, more contrasting.
03:20On the one hand we see Jófia, the protagonist's niece, who is being interrogated and deprived of her freedom in Europe.
03:27On the other hand, Laszlo experiences a claustrophobic and quite dizzying journey that takes place in the port of New York, a port known worldwide as the Island of Liberty, where a majestic Statue of Liberty welcomes the visitors, or in Laszlo's case, the new inhabitants.
03:46With this quote and the editing of both sequences, the film invites the viewer to question the ideal concepts of freedom, sowing from the beginning the doubt as to whether its protagonist will really be able to be so.
04:00Doubt that is also reinforced with one of the most striking, beautiful and beautiful images of the film.
04:12The Statue of Liberty inverted, which could be a metaphor for the paradox of the American dream and the illusion of freedom.
04:21And it is that while the Statue of Liberty is erected as a symbol of welcome and hope, the reality for many immigrants has been different, marked by discrimination, precariousness and uncertainty as to whether they have really achieved this freedom or have simply changed prisons.
04:39For Laszlo, for our protagonist, this inverted image reinforces his internal conflict. Has he really escaped or is he still trapped in a new form of captivity? His world, like that of the statue, seems to be inverted, challenging the idea of whether really arriving in the United States means being free.
04:59And I, since I saw that beautiful image at the beginning of the film, I knew that something good was waiting for me and I knew that my hair had exploded and they stayed like that until today. And it is that with three and a half hours of duration and an intermediate included, for me Cinefilos is the best film that is competing in the awards.
05:17And it is that I feel that we are not only facing a powerful story, but it is also filmed, interpreted and structured in the most cinematographic way possible. It is nothing arbitrary, nothing by chance that from the moment you sit down and the film begins, you have the feeling that you are watching a classic.
05:35Starting with the fact that it was filmed using the VistaVision format, a panoramic technique developed by Paramount Pictures in 1953. And it is that despite the fact that VistaVision has stopped being used since the 60s, its director Brady Corbett and the photography director Low Crowley opted for this format to be able to capture the aesthetics of the time in which the film is set.
05:58On the other hand, Dan Blumberg's soundtrack is spectacular. And like all the elements of this tape, here the music is characterized by its experimental and minimalist approach, aligning with the brutalist approach that the film has.
06:13Now, something interesting about the music is that as the narrative progresses, especially with the appearance of the wife, the music evolves towards more dramatic and emotional tones, even introducing a love theme that provides a new emotional dimension. In short, the narrative and the cinematographic language do not operate separately. Here they merge into a harmony where each visual, sound and structural decision reinforces the message of the film.
06:42But to me, one of the elements that most managed to explode in my head, and that is why I bring it like this, is of course the theme of BRUTALISM. And look, the truth is that when I saw that the film is called The Brutalist, of course I thought, ah, well, it's brutal, it's a very brutal character.
06:57And I feel quite ignorant, but I know that I am not the only one, so in the comments let me know if you thought the same, but I will no longer be ignorant because I learned about it and I also want to contextualize you because that will undoubtedly enrich your experience of the film, which is BRUTALISM IN ARCHITECTURE.
07:12Well, Brutalism emerged in a post-war context, mainly after the Second World War, when many European cities needed to be rebuilt quickly with accessible materials and lasting structures.
07:25Raw concrete and cement became the ideal option because they were economic resistant and allowed to be built en masse regardless of expensive ornaments. In addition to the fact that this style aligned with the values of the time, having a functional structure and without pretensions that rejected luxury in favor of utility.
07:44However, its massive and monolithic aesthetics also generated a lot of criticism, as many perceived it as something cold and imposing. And what does this architectural style have to do with the film? Well, it has to do with absolutely everything.
07:58The architecture or project of Laszlo is not simply something that describes his trade, his passion or his profession, but it is also a direct reflection of his emotional state. Here Brutalism works as an extension of the character's anemic and psychological state, a vehicle to capture his story and his feelings between the walls.
08:20And of course, our character, having the opportunity to capture all his emotions, would not do it with something full of ornaments, colors or traditional beauty, but through this Brutalist style. Why? Because the feeling that this style, this building, causes you is one of intimidation, uncertainty, a certain nostalgia and isolation. But also, with some slight hints of light, it causes you a tingle of freedom and hope.
08:47Although the reality is that this light, or this lighting, opens with difficulty before the rigidity of its structure. Of course, I am not an expert in architecture, but in cinema, well, I kind of move some correct strings. And I could dedicate paragraphs and paragraphs and paragraphs to compare Brutalism with the character, but I think it was understood enough and we have to move forward with this video. So let's talk about the interpretations.
09:09Because Adrien Brody, or Adrien Brody, I say Brody, but what is Brody? Cinefilos is impeccable. Really, it doesn't stop surprising me how meticulous he is with all his nuances in his interpretation. And how can he go from perceiving himself as an excited man, to later, little by little, see himself as someone confused and end up as someone devastated.
09:29But what I love is that his tones, the way he expresses himself, is not exaggerated, but his flow from one emotion to another is subtle and highly human. In such a way that you forget that the man is acting. And the rest of the cast is not left behind. Felicity Jones is extremely moving in her character. A very sensitive woman, but who knows her value.
09:51And Guy Pearce gives us one of his best interpretations. And I tell you, one of my favorite movies, one of my three favorite movies, is Memento. And really, Guy Pearce did a great job here. Something that excites me a lot, really. Applause to the man, he is not seeing me, but I am applauding the director of this movie.
10:08Brady Corbett is noticeable. Really, you watch this movie and you know, you feel, you perceive that the man loves, loves, loves cinema. The movie lasts more than three hours and really no element feels out of place or that is left over. Each scene is meticulously planned to enrich the context, give more volume to the conflicts or the situation of the characters and of course to advance in the plot.
10:33But what I like most about his direction is just this tone and this rhythm that does not fall into hyper-dramatization or in a victimist look at its protagonists. Because yes, they are victims, constantly. But he always fills them with a lot of dignity and makes it quite clear to us who the villains are or what he represents to a villain. But all this with an elegance that, yes.
10:59The truth is that if a lamp genius appears to me and says, you can ask for other wishes, one of them will be one day to be as talented as that man. Applause.
11:07Photography is another precious element, cinephiles. Not only for the material they used to film, but the composition, what things the director is deciding to show us and at what time. The edition is impeccable and give all the awards.
11:21The Brutalist is a story, a film that gradually opens up like a shell to reveal a lot about the human condition towards the end. And that is where the film transcends. Because it is not only a story about the struggle of a man on a land that promised freedom, but a deep exploration of the cost of resistance and the memory of all those who have been molded by suffering.
11:46Of course, The Brutalist is not a film that is looking for easy answers or complacent redemptions. It is a film, in fact, very sad to see. But without a doubt it immerses us in a dense and deliberate atmosphere that is forcing us to feel that oppression, that despair and at the same time the unbreakable resilience and determination.
12:08Because in the end, cinephiles, what is architecture but a testament of existence? What is the concrete of this material but a vestige of what we try to build in the midst of chaos? And like the buildings, our protagonist, Laszlo Toth, remains imposing and unbreakable.
12:28In the end, I think this is a film that is going to challenge and remain in time. And I love the horrible feeling it causes you. I'm not going to lie, it's a sad film to watch, especially because it could start as something exciting.
12:43As you could even feel that it is going to be an aspirational film of overcoming man. But it turns out to be a true, raw story. True, not based on real facts, but that you feel that there is truth behind it and that it makes us reflect. That's why I give this film, of course, five stars.
13:03If you want to know my opinion on the subject of artificial intelligence, because maybe some of you are going to ask, used to improve the Hungarian accent of the actors. Well, we already had a debate about it on the Forefocus channel.
13:15If not, maybe later I will also make a video talking about that once again. But hey, we have already addressed this topic. And in this criticism I wanted to talk more about the artistic elements, rather than getting into the controversy of artificial intelligence.
13:26Well, I would also love to know what you think about it. Do you think that this takes away merit from the work of the actors? Or do you think that using it correctly is a tool to enhance precisely something that feels more realistic, the interpretation, etc.
13:38Or well, whatever your opinion is. You don't agree? If you agree, let me know in the comments.
13:44Thank you very much for watching this video and I also share with you that I had the fortune to be able to interview its protagonist.
13:49No, that's not why I gave it 5 stars. I have interviewed a lot of people that I give 1 star, 2 stars to the movie. But you already know it because you already know me.
13:55But if you want to see that fabulous interview with poetic words by Adrien Brody, I invite you to see it. It is already on the channel.
14:01Thank you very much for watching this video. My name is Deymes Aconceta.
14:05Adios!
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