It's hard not to root for The Brutalist. A monumental effort from director Brady Corbet, this is filmmaking at its most idealistic of the form – massive in ambition and pretension (necessary twin sides of the same coin) – a labour of love and a deliberate anachronism made for an era when three-hour epics made without green screens or CGI were a more everyday sort of miracle.
The film has been a rousing success since it was first screened to generational raves at the Venice Film Festival in September. It’s grossed more than $30 million on a $10 million budget, won a host of awards and is a favourite to win several at the coming Academy Awards – lead actor Adrian Brody is most likely to win after turning in the best work of his career and some of the best of the century.
But not everything is as it seems. Corbet, 36, revealed in an interview this week that he’s broke – scraping by off money cobbled together from odd jobs he took to stay afloat as he crafted his passion project. No one pays you to show up to award shows, he explains. Heck, you barely get paid to make your masterpiece. It’s a story that mirrors the one he tells in his own film – the tale of a struggling architect named Lazlo Toth (Brody) who fights for decades to build his own masterwork in an America that barely accepts him.
Corbet’s real-life villain is amorphous – a soulless, vacuous industry that rarely rewards integrity. Lazlo’s fictional villain embodies those same traits, but is more obvious and more charming – taking the form of a mid-20th century American millionaire industrialist named Harrison Lee Van Buren (Guy Pearce).
At first, Harrison seems to be a kindly benefactor. His first proper interaction with Lazlo finds him with his tail between his legs – ashamed that he didn’t recognise the genius of a man he had once fired with fury until the work he’d done for him started to generate positive press. Harrison attempts to right that wrong, hiring Lazlo to build a massive community building near his home with a design like no other.
Lazlo is wary of basically everyone – even himself. A survivor of the Buchenwald concentration camp, he’s a Jewish Hungarian immigrant in search of an American dream he never fully believes in. He’s escaped fascism and is now beholden to the subtle evils of capitalism, which begins with promises of prosperity and freedom but exists to suck the soul out of him for the benefit of lesser men whom their system has deemed great.
Harrison is one of those lesser men, and he knows it. His self-worth is built on his vast wealth but he’s unsatisfied by it, instead attempting to co-opt the greatness of others. The poison within him comes out the more of Lazlo he attempts to possess – a thirst that grows more vampiric with time. His is an identity built on subjugation and spiritual colonisation, one Lazlo never fully submits to.
Lazlo’s Jewishness is central to his character. He’s keenly aware that, because of his ethno-religious identity, those around him view him as unwanted other. He’s a man of faith but he struggles at times to maintain his connection to God in the face of his great suffering. And at regular points in the film, we’re overtly reminded of the founding of a Jewish state called Israel, which his family members believe is their true home and the only place they’ll be accepted – something Lazlo personally rejects for much of the film.
While Lazlo’s story is a work of fiction, it takes heavy inspiration from the real brutalist architects of the 20th century, many of whom trained in the Bauhaus in Germany before the Nazis shut it down in 1933. They created works that were both harsh but hopeful, and utilitarian but stylish in their deceptive simplicity. In real life, many of them came to America and many ended up in Israel, with Brutalist architecture having since become a draw card (of those allowed to return there, anyway) of cities such as Tel Aviv.
The Brutalist is a long film – a feature, not a flaw. In cinemas, it runs nearly four hours long (three hours and twenty minutes at home) thanks to its mandatory intermission. The first half is still starry-eyed, ending as Lazlo’s dream building seems all but inevitable, and he and his long-lost wife are set to be reunited. The second half confronts the darkness the first lets you ignore. Some critics have said that the film would only be a masterpiece if it just stopped before the intermission, an opinion akin to saying Romeo & Juliet should have ended after the balcony scene.
It's long, but it’s never boring. The cinematography – filmed on the '60s technology Vistavision – is sumptuous and considered, making the most of the film’s copious long cuts and wide scenery shots. The performances, particularly those of Brody, Pearce, and Felicity Jones (who plays Lazlo’s wife), are layered and engrossing. It’s a world you won’t want to leave, though one you may not entirely be satisfied by.
This is a film adorned in truth – truth about art, humanity and society. In it, power is the only true currency that matters, and evil is infectious and pervasive. Corbet has stated that he made the film as a rejection of the American dream. He wanted to show the dark side of that promise – telling a story of those who failed to find it and were forced to leave, reinforcing the latent greatness of its hero to hammer home the value he could have brought had society been as accommodating as it advertises.
From start to finish, the film offers his alternative plainly – Israel, a place where Jews can supposedly live in peace and prosperity, the home that was promised to them. It can be argued that the film presents things objectively, never endorsing Zionism but merely presenting it as a fact of history, and one open to interpretation. But more important than its objectivity is its deliberate omission – never once mentioning the word Palestine, nor the plight of the Palestinian people.
At the end of the film, Lazlo’s niece gives a speech at the Israeli Pavilion of the Venice Architecture Biennale honouring her uncle, in which she says that we’ve had it all wrong – it’s the destination that matters, not the journey. That can be read as an echo of Lazlo’s own hopes – that his life’s work was worth all that struggle. But it can also be read as subtly Machiavellian – the ends justify the means, and the dream of Israel was worth the hundreds of thousands of people killed or displaced to build it.
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
It's a deeply unsatisfying ending. Let me propose another: in it, we see Lazlo has built his greatest Brutalist masterpiece in Tel Aviv and, as he stares at it, the shot begins to reverse. We then see a time-lapse video that goes back to the building’s construction and then back further to the Palestinians who had been living there before. Maybe we watch them be killed and ethnically cleansed from the homes their families held for millennia, as their orange trees burn. Or perhaps they fast-forward to today, where the bodies of children are still being pulled from the rubble in the wake of the Israel-Gaza war, 70km away.
In this version, we’d see the darker truth the film is unable to engage with – as Ta Nahesi Coates writes in The Message: "Your oppression will not save you; being a victim will not enlighten you."
Even those who went through the Holocaust can enact comparable evils on others. Now that would make this the truly bold work full of grand statements it strives to be.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Eyasses squad
Charlie Preston (captain) – goal shooter/ goalkeeper (Dubai College)
Arushi Holt (vice-captain) – wing defence / centre (Jumeriah English Speaking School)
Olivia Petricola (vice-captain) – centre / wing attack (Dubai English Speaking College)
Isabel Affley – goalkeeper / goal defence (Dubai English Speaking College)
Jemma Eley – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)
Alana Farrell-Morton – centre / wing / defence / wing attack (Nord Anglia International School)
Molly Fuller – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)
Caitlin Gowdy – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai English Speaking College)
Noorulain Hussain – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai College)
Zahra Hussain-Gillani – goal defence / goalkeeper (British School Al Khubairat)
Claire Janssen – goal shooter / goal attack (Jumeriah English Speaking School)
Eliza Petricola – wing attack / centre (Dubai English Speaking College)
Common OCD symptoms and how they manifest
Checking: the obsession or thoughts focus on some harm coming from things not being as they should, which usually centre around the theme of safety. For example, the obsession is “the building will burn down”, therefore the compulsion is checking that the oven is switched off.
Contamination: the obsession is focused on the presence of germs, dirt or harmful bacteria and how this will impact the person and/or their loved ones. For example, the obsession is “the floor is dirty; me and my family will get sick and die”, the compulsion is repetitive cleaning.
Orderliness: the obsession is a fear of sitting with uncomfortable feelings, or to prevent harm coming to oneself or others. Objectively there appears to be no logical link between the obsession and compulsion. For example,” I won’t feel right if the jars aren’t lined up” or “harm will come to my family if I don’t line up all the jars”, so the compulsion is therefore lining up the jars.
Intrusive thoughts: the intrusive thought is usually highly distressing and repetitive. Common examples may include thoughts of perpetrating violence towards others, harming others, or questions over one’s character or deeds, usually in conflict with the person’s true values. An example would be: “I think I might hurt my family”, which in turn leads to the compulsion of avoiding social gatherings.
Hoarding: the intrusive thought is the overvaluing of objects or possessions, while the compulsion is stashing or hoarding these items and refusing to let them go. For example, “this newspaper may come in useful one day”, therefore, the compulsion is hoarding newspapers instead of discarding them the next day.
Source: Dr Robert Chandler, clinical psychologist at Lighthouse Arabia
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Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
- 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
- 2nd Test India won by innings and 53 runs at Colombo
- 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele
Freezer tips
- Always make sure food is completely cool before freezing.
- If you’re cooking in large batches, divide into either family-sized or individual portions to freeze.
- Ensure the food is well wrapped in foil or cling film. Even better, store in fully sealable, labelled containers or zip-lock freezer bags.
- The easiest and safest way to defrost items such as the stews and sauces mentioned is to do so in the fridge for several hours or overnight.
Scoreline
Australia 2-1 Thailand
Australia: Juric 69', Leckie 86'
Thailand: Pokklaw 82'
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
'Panga'
Directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha, Jassie Gill, Yagya Bhasin, Neena Gupta
Rating: 3.5/5
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
How will Gen Alpha invest?
Mark Chahwan, co-founder and chief executive of robo-advisory firm Sarwa, forecasts that Generation Alpha (born between 2010 and 2024) will start investing in their teenage years and therefore benefit from compound interest.
“Technology and education should be the main drivers to make this happen, whether it’s investing in a few clicks or their schools/parents stepping up their personal finance education skills,” he adds.
Mr Chahwan says younger generations have a higher capacity to take on risk, but for some their appetite can be more cautious because they are investing for the first time. “Schools still do not teach personal finance and stock market investing, so a lot of the learning journey can feel daunting and intimidating,” he says.
He advises millennials to not always start with an aggressive portfolio even if they can afford to take risks. “We always advise to work your way up to your risk capacity, that way you experience volatility and get used to it. Given the higher risk capacity for the younger generations, stocks are a favourite,” says Mr Chahwan.
Highlighting the role technology has played in encouraging millennials and Gen Z to invest, he says: “They were often excluded, but with lower account minimums ... a customer with $1,000 [Dh3,672] in their account has their money working for them just as hard as the portfolio of a high get-worth individual.”
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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RESULT
Manchester City 5 Swansea City 0
Man City: D Silva (12'), Sterling (16'), De Bruyne (54' ), B Silva (64' minutes), Jesus (88')
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
more from Janine di Giovanni
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The biog
Favourite food: Tabbouleh, greek salad and sushi
Favourite TV show: That 70s Show
Favourite animal: Ferrets, they are smart, sensitive, playful and loving
Favourite holiday destination: Seychelles, my resolution for 2020 is to visit as many spiritual retreats and animal shelters across the world as I can
Name of first pet: Eddy, a Persian cat that showed up at our home
Favourite dog breed: I love them all - if I had to pick Yorkshire terrier for small dogs and St Bernard's for big
Federer's 19 grand slam titles
Australian Open (5 titles) - 2004 bt Marat Safin; 2006 bt Marcos Baghdatis; 2007 bt Fernando Gonzalez; 2010 bt Andy Murray; 2017 bt Rafael Nadal
French Open (1 title) - 2009 bt Robin Soderling
Wimbledon (8 titles) - 2003 bt Mark Philippoussis; 2004 bt Andy Roddick; 2005 bt Andy Roddick; 2006 bt Rafael Nadal; 2007 bt Rafael Nadal; 2009 bt Andy Roddick; 2012 bt Andy Murray; 2017 bt Marin Cilic
US Open (5 titles) - 2004 bt Lleyton Hewitt; 2005 bt Andre Agassi; 2006 bt Andy Roddick; 2007 bt Novak Djokovic; 2008 bt Andy Murray
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
