5 plot points from The Brutalist that probably have a deeper significance

The Brutalist has emerged as one of the most well-received films of 2024. Released on December 20, 2024, by A24, the period drama holds a 94% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and minted $36.6 million at the box office as of February 2025.

Brady Corbet is the director of the film, and he co-wrote it with Mona Fastvold. The film is about a holocaust survivor who lands in the United States and struggles to make it big. Here's the official synopsis:

"When a visionary architect and his wife flee post-war Europe in 1947 to rebuild their legacy and witness the birth of modern United States, their lives are changed forever by a mysterious, wealthy client."

Amid its buzz, we have decided to come up with five plot points from the film that are more than what appears on the surface.

5 The Brutalist plot points that are deeper than they seem

1) Depiction of post-war America

The Brutalist is mainly about László Tóth (played by Adrian Broody), a Jewish man from Hungary who managed to survive the holocaust during World War II. Through this protagonist, the plot explores the world after the devastation caused by the war, along with the life of an immigrant in the United States. Toth is trying to find his identity while trying to chase the American dream.

(2) Heroin addiction is likened to greed for money

As the story progresses, László Tóth begins to get addicted to heroin. He uses it for the first time when he is on his way to the United States. Over time, he develops an addiction to the point when his wife almost dies due to an overdose. A fan theory suggests that his addiction is used as an euphemism for capitalism.

(3) László's dislike for the speech Zsófia makes

László's work gets recognized towards the end of The Brutalist as people like the architecture he did in Italy. By this time, he has aged and he is not in a position to talk as the story ends. So his niece, Zsófia, talks about him in the speech and showers praises on his architectural achievements. But a fan theory points that he does not really agree with this sentiment because of what he and his family had to go through to make it big.

(4) A period drama that is relevant in modern age

The Brutalist takes place in 20th century to explore a world where people are recovering from war and destruction. Despite its setting timewise, the story is told from a human lense and its relevant for modern times. It explores themes like immigration, finding your place in a foreign land and capitalism among other things.

(5) Audrey's antisemitism in The Brutalist

László meets his cousin Attila in the United States right after landing in the country. Attila is married to Audrey who is welcoming towards László but at one point, she comments about the size of his nose. This comment hints that she might have closeted antisemitic views. László is thrown out of Attila's house after their relationship goes sour. This is one of the moments where he realizes how being Jewish is used against him in the country.

The Brutalist tells the story of a Jewish man achieving the American dream which he eventually does. But he has to go through a lot in the meantime.