As a film critic with over two decades of experience in the industry, I must say that Brady Corbet’s latest masterpiece, “The Brutalist,” has left me both intrigued and perplexed. The ambiguity surrounding the fate of Guy Pearce’s character, Harrison Lee Van Buren, is a testament to Corbet’s skill as a storyteller, leaving just enough mystery for the audience to ponder long after the credits roll.
⚠️ HEED THIS NOTICE: The ensuing content may disclose plot points from the movie “The Brutalist”. Proceed with caution if you haven’t watched it yet!
If you found yourself pondering some questions after watching the end of Brady Corbet’s film, The Brutalist, you should understand that you’re not the only one left puzzling over it. The ending, with Felicity Jones’ character Erzsébet Tóth accusing Guy Pearce’s character Harrison Lee Van Buren of raping her husband, and his subsequent disappearance, leaves the fate of Pearce’s character somewhat unclear in the movie. However, according to co-star Joe Alwyn, there was more definitive information about the character’s fate in the original script compared to what is shown on screen.
In “The Brutalist” movie, the character portrayed by the actor goes by Harry Lee Van Buren, who is the son of Harrison Lee Van Buren. In a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, he sheds some light on the fate of his on-screen father at the film’s conclusion. As the story unfolds, a search party scours the massive concrete structure engineered by Adrien Brody’s character László Tóth for Harrison, but it remains unclear whether they successfully find him. Alwyn mentions that there was initially less ambiguity in the script, but he has no qualms with how the narrative unfolds on-screen.
Yesterday, a friend texted me with the same question. In the script, it seems clearer than what’s shown in the movie. There’s a line, possibly hidden within the film, when they’re searching for him and someone says, ‘We found something.’ I don’t recall if it was as explicit as, ‘We found a body,’ but I believe the implication is that he took his own life. However, I appreciate the ambiguity, as the ending doesn’t show him dead in a monument. But yes, based on my understanding, that appears to be how the story concludes.
In my opinion, just like you, I found that the main point I got from watching “The Brutalist” was also ambiguous regarding Harrison Lee Van Buren’s fate. However, subtle hints in the film suggest that he may have chosen to end his life.
Apart from queries about the conclusion of “The Brutalist,” Joe Alwyn has also faced questions regarding Harry’s intense response to Erzsébet Tóth’s allegations in interviews for the trade. Alwyn initially didn’t see his character as a victim of sexual assault by Harrison during filming, but he now believes it’s worth considering as a valid perspective. In his words, “I hadn’t thought about my character being a victim, but it’s an aspect that should be considered.
Several individuals have inquired about Harry’s intense response towards Erzsébet at the end, particularly when he takes her out of the house, following his father’s accusations. Some viewers have speculated that this reaction might stem from a past personal experience. While I didn’t consciously consider this during filming, it is an intriguing observation. Indeed, it aligns with the narrative, although it wasn’t explicitly written in the script. Brady never hinted at such a detail. It seems Harry’s reaction encompasses anger, shock, and embarrassment, but there could also be a hidden trauma underlying it.
It’s an interesting take on just one particular element of The Brutalist, and cinephiles can likely expect to see a lot more takes about the movie in the coming months, as it has been widely celebrated and has arrived in theaters on a huge wave of buzz following fall festival screenings. The movie is now out in limited release as part of an award qualifying run, and it will be going nationwide in IMAX on January 24, 2025.
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2024-12-25 03:37