A24 has acquired U.S. distribution rights to The Brutalist, a historical epic directed by Brady Corbet and starring Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones. The 215-minute film (including intermission!) received rave reviews at the Venice Film Festival and then screened for buyers at the Toronto Film Festival.
A24 emerged victorious in what was described as a highly competitive sale that saw multiple suitors pursue the film after “The Brutalist” received a 12-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival and earned Corbett the Silver Lion for best director. CAA Media Finance brokered the deal, which was valued at just under $10 million, according to sources. A24 declined to comment.
“The Brutalist” charts the journey of Hungarian-born Jewish architect László Toth (Brody), who emigrates to the United States in 1947. Though he struggles through poverty at first, he soon lands a contract that will change his life for the next three decades. The film, which also stars Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn, Alessandro Nivola and Jonathan Hyde, was written by Corbett in collaboration with his wife Mona Fastvold (Sleepwalkers).
In his review for Variety, chief film critic Owen Gleiberman wrote that Corbett’s “third breakout feature” (his CV also includes 2015’s “A Reader’s Childhood” and 2018’s “Vox Lux,” starring Natalie Portman) was “a breakthrough,” and called the movie an “engrossing epic.”
Focus Features holds international rights outside of North America. A release date has yet to be announced. Shot on VistaVision and screening in 70mm in Venice and Toronto, “The Brutalist” will later screen at the New York Film Festival.
The Brutalist is produced by Brookstreet UK’s Trevor Matthews and Nick Gordon in association with Brian Young and Andrew Morrison of Kaplan Morrison. Andrew Lauren and DJ Guggenheim of Andrew Lauren Productions are also producing. Brookstreet UK is financing with Lip Sync Productions, Richmond Pictures, Meyohas Studios, Carte Blanche, Pierce Capital Entertainment and senior lender Cofi Loisirs.
Corbett has denied any arguments about the film’s three hour and 15 minute running time. “I think it’s really ridiculous to argue about the length of the film,” he told reporters at a press conference in Venice. “It’s like criticizing a book for being 700 pages long, not 100.”
