While liberty and independence are related concepts, they differ in key ways: liberty is about being free from oppressive restrictions, while independence focuses on self-reliance and autonomy. The dynamics between an immigrant and their new homeland, as well as the relationship between László Tóth (Adrien Brody) and Harrison Lee Van Buren (Guy Pearce) in Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist, revolve around both ideals, creating a narrative tension that explores freedom and control on multiple levels. As László struggles to assert his independence, this relationship becomes a tense battle of wills, reflecting broader themes of art versus commerce, immigrant resilience against systemic oppression, and personal integrity in the face of exploitation. It all becomes clear who gets the short end of the stick when they journey to a town in Italy.
For those unfamiliar with Carrara, it is a mountainside town renowned for its seemingly endless supply of marble, quarried over centuries. The landscape, now stripped and scarred, resembles a half-nude figure—exposed yet still brimming with raw beauty and history – perfect analogy for the fractured in the relationship. During a Q&A award session hosted by Josh Haroutunian, I had the chance to ask Adrien Brody and Guy Pearce about there experience shooting in this location – thinking beyond it from an intellectual or ecological level.
