A24 has won the bidding war to acquire the U.S. rights to Brady Corbet's Venice Film Festival-winning film The BrutalistA24 announced the deal, brokered by CAA Media Finance, on Sunday, ahead of the film’s North American premiere at the Toronto Film Festival on Sept. 10.
Adrien Brody stars in the historical epic as László Tóth, a Hungarian Jewish architect of the Brutalist school who survives the devastation of World War II and emigrates to the United States, hoping to rebuild his life and business. Initially forced to work hard in poverty, he soon wins a contract from a mysterious and wealthy client, Harrison Lee Van Buren (Guy Pearce), that will change the course of the next 30 years of his life. Felicity Jones co-stars as Tóth's wife, Erzsébet, while Joe Alwyn plays the wealthy industrialist's mercurial son. Raffey Cassidy, Stacy Martin, Emma Laird, Isaach De Bankolé and Alessandro Nivola co-star. Corbet co-wrote the film with his wife, Norwegian director and actress Mona Fastvold.
It took Cobert more than seven years to make it happen. The Brutalistwith various false starts and financial difficulties. The film was shot on 70mm film in the retro mid-century VistaVision format. Corbet had to ship 26 reels of film, weighing approximately 300 pounds, to Italy for the film's world premiere.
But it was worth it. The Brutalist It was the toast of the Lido, receiving rave reviews and winning Corbet the Silver Lion for best director.
After its North American premiere in Toronto, the film will screen at the New York Film Festival.
Trevor Matthews and Nick Gordon produced The Brutalist for Brookstreet UK alongside Brian Young and Andrew Morrison of Kaplan Morrison. Additional producers include Andrew Lauren for Andrew Lauren Productions and DJ Gugenheim. Brookstreet UK financed with Lip Sync Productions, Richmond Pictures, Meyohas Studio, Carte Blanche, Pierce Capital Entertainment and senior financier Cofiloisirs.
Focus Features holds international rights to the film outside of North America.