Venice Film Festival debuts 3-hour post-war epic ‘The Brutalist,’ in 70mm

VENICE, Italy (AP) — “The Brutalist,” a post-war epic about a Holocaust survivor attempting to rebuild a life in America, is a fantasy. But filmmaker Brady Corbet wishes it weren’t.

“The film is about the physical manifestation of the trauma of the 20th century,” Corbet said Sunday at the Venice Film Festival. “It’s dedicated to the artists that didn’t get to realize their vision.”

In part inspired by the late Jean-Louis Cohen’s book “Architecture in Uniform,” the film starring Adrien Brody as a Hungarian architect had its world premiere Sunday afternoon.

Spanning decades, “The Brutalist” tells the story of László Tóth and his attempts to pursue his art after the war in America. Brody plays Tóth, and Felicity Jones his wife, Erzsébet. He lives in near-poverty until a wealthy industrialist, Harrison Lee Van Buren (Guy Pearce), gives him an important contract. Joe Alwyn and Alessandro Nivola also star.

Brody said it was a character and a story he felt an “immediate kinship and understanding for.” His mother, photographer Sylvia Plachy, was a Hungarian immigrant who fled in 1956 during the anti-Soviet revolution to restart and attempt to build a life as an artist.

“Even though it’s fiction, it feels very real and very real to me,” Brody said. “That’s so important for me to embody a character and make it real.”

Running 215-minutes (with a 15-minute intermission) and presented in 70mm (it was shot in Vista Vision), “The Brutalist” arrived in Venice with expectations high. Reviews were mostly positive, hailing its ambition and Brody's performance.

Even the 70mm format alone seemed like a bold statement for a film without U.S. distribution left: Though a favorite of cinephiles, the expense seems to be reserved for a select few, like Christopher Nolan and Denis Villeneuve. In other words, not often something afforded to an indie.

Wearing sunglasses, Corbet was feeling emotional speaking about the film, which he’d worked on for seven years.

“This film does everything that we are told we are not allowed to do,” said Corbet. He added that conversations about runtime are “silly.”

“I’ve read great novellas, I’ve read great multi-volume masterpieces,” Corbet said. “Maybe the next thing I make will be about 45 minutes, and I should be allowed to do that. … As Harmony Korine once said, cinema is stuck in the birth canal. And I agree with him.”

In 2018 Corbet brought his divisive “Vox Lux,” in which Natalie Portman plays a pop star who witnessed a school shooting in her youth, to Venice. He earlier premiered “The Childhood of a Leader” there. Corbet, also an actor, wrote the script with his wife Mona Fastvold, who is also a filmmaker (“The World to Come”). Corbet thanked the Venice Film Festival for supporting him.

“When no one was supporting these films, this festival was,” he said. “It made my films possible.”

“The Brutalist” is playing in competition at the festival, which is well underway having already hosted glamorous premieres with Angelina Jolie (“Maria”), Nicole Kidman (“Babygirl”), Cate Blanchett (“Disclaimer”), Jude Law (“The Order”) with many more to come.

For more coverage of the 2024 Venice Film Festival, visit https://apnews.com/hub/venice-film-festival

Director Brady Corbet, left, and writer Mona Fastvold pose for photographers at the photo call for the film 'The Brutalist' during the 81st edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, on Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

Director Brady Corbet poses for photographers at the photo call for the film 'The Brutalist' during the 81st edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, on Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

Felicity Jones poses for photographers at the photo call for the film 'The Brutalist' during the 81st edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, on Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)

Joe Alwyn poses for photographers at the photo call for the film 'The Brutalist' during the 81st edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, on Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

Joe Alwyn, from left, Alessandro Nivola, Felicity Jones, Stacy Martin, Ariane Labed, Adrien Brody, Isaach de Bankole, Raffey Cassidy, Emma Laird, writer Mona Fastvold, director Brady Corbet and Guy Pearce pose for photographers at the photo call for the film 'The Brutalist' during the 81st edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, on Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

Adrien Brody poses for photographers at the photo call for the film 'The Brutalist' during the 81st edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, on Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

Adrien Brody poses for photographers at the photo call for the film 'The Brutalist' during the 81st edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, on Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Lionel Messi made a successful return after a lengthy absence, scoring two goals and assisting on the third to lead Inter Miami to a 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union on Saturday night.

The Argentine star winger and eight-time Ballon d’Or winner had not played with Inter Miami since June 1 because of national team commitments and a right ankle injury sustained in a 1-0 victory over Colombia in the Copa America final on July 14.

“What he did was more typical than other things that happened tonight,” Inter Miami coach coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino said in Spanish. “I am happy that he finished the game and completed the 90 minutes. He felt fine.”

Messi, who resumed practicing three weeks ago, showed no rust or ill-effects from the injury with his performance. He scored twice in a four-minute span midway through the first half that negated an early goal by Philadelphia.

Without Messi, Miami went 8-2 and clinched an MLS playoff spot. Miami (19-4-5) also took the lead in the Supporters Shield table with 62 points.

“It’s nice to see that his injury has healed and that he’s as effective as he was before,” Inter Miami midfielder Julian Gressel said.

Luis Suárez had one assist and clinched Miami’s win with a strike on Messi’s assist during second half stoppage time. It was Suárez’s 17th goal of the season.

Messi’s first goal in the 26th minute evened it at 1-all. Suárez sent a short pass near the large area, where Messi retrieved it, outmaneuvered Union defender Kai Wagner into the box and converted a shot that landed inside the left post.

Four minutes later, Messi received a crossing pass inside the box and beat Philadelphia goalkeeper Andrew Rick with a 15-yard shot.

Suárez had a goal in the 44th minute overturned after a video review ruled an offside infraction.

“As the game progressed we ran the risk of not controlling the ball,” Martino said. “From the last 30 minutes of the first half we managed to handle the ball better.”

Messi’s mended ankle absorbed a kick by Philadelphia midfielder Quinn Sullivan in the 67th minute as both battled for a loose ball. Messi fell to the ground and favored the ankle but quickly stood and continued playing. Match referee Sergii Boiko assessed yellow cards to Sullivan and Martino, who argued for a stiffer infraction against Sullivan.

Seeking the equalizer, Philadelphia (7-12-9) pressured repeatedly throughout the second half before Messi centered a pass to Suárez and he converted from 18 yards.

Before his absence, the 37-year-old Messi had 12 goals and 13 assists in 12 league matches this season.

Fans barely settled in when Union forward Mikael Uhre stunned the home crowd with a goal two minutes into the match.

Messi had his first scoring opportunity in the seventh minute with a free kick near the half circle that was cleared by a wall of Philadelphia defenders.

For Inter Miami, the victory came with a price. Defender David Martinez left early in the first half because of a groin injury and his replacement Noah Allen also was removed after what Martino said was a blow to the head.

“We have to take it day by day and see how they recover and how they feel,” Martino said.

Both clubs continue league play with road matches on Wednesday. Inter Miami will visit Atlanta on Tuesday while the Union visit New York City FC on Tuesday.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Inter Miami defender Jordi Alba (18) jumps over Philadelphia Union midfielder Alejandro Bedoya (11) during the second half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Philadelphia Union defender Nathan Harriel (26) and Inter Miami midfielder Diego GÛmez (20) go after the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Philadelphia Union midfielders Jack McGlynn (16) and Leon Flach (31) defend Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Teammates celebrate a goal by Philadelphia Union forward Mikael Uhre (7) during the first half of an MLS soccer match against the Inter Miami, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Inter Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender (1) is unable to catch a goal by Philadelphia Union forward Mikael Uhre (7) during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Inter Miami head coach Tara Mendoza reacts to a call by a referee after Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) collided with a Philadelphia Union player during the second half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Inter Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender (1) deflects a corner kick during the first half of an MLS soccer match against the Philadelphia Union, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) its hugged by his teammates after scoring his second goal during the first half of an MLS soccer match against the Philadelphia Union, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) kicks the ball away from Philadelphia Union midfielder Leon Flach (31) during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)