The nearly-forgotten tradition of a film intermission will be revived when The Brutalist hits theaters on Dec. 20. Having a running time of just over three and a half hours, this A24 film is set to have a 15-minute intermission between its two chapters, “The Enigma of Arrival” and “The Hard Core of Beauty.”
The Brutalist is a historical drama that shows the journey of László Tóth (Adrien Brody), a Jewish Hungarian architect who’s attempting to rebuild his life in late 1940s America after escaping postwar Europe.
Whether it’s refilling the popcorn, taking a restroom break, or partaking in some rather risky business, as suggested by director Brady Corbet, a lot can happen in 15 minutes. At the film’s recent Los Angeles premiere, The Hollywood Reporter asked the cast what they would suggest doing during the intermission.
Brody embraces the idea that an intermission allows the audience to take a moment to reflect on the story. “I find that it’s a moment to sit there in the silence and darkness with an image that’s evocative while you contemplate a chapter and let it sink in before a new chapter unfolds. It’s quite special and beautiful, and it makes the experience feel like an event, especially in a theater,” he said.
Felicity Jones, portraying Tóth’s wife Erzsébet Tóth, listed out a variety of options. “You can have a cup of tea, you can have a cigarette, you can have a drink, you can have a chat with the person you’re watching it with,” she said. Jones added that in a world of short-form content, “it’s actually incredibly relaxing to watch something that captivates you for such a long time.”
Guy Pearce, as the wealthy Harrison Lee Van Buren Sr., suggested going to the restroom, chatting about the first half of the film, and getting a refill on popcorn. “But don’t be too late going back in for the second half,” he said. Joe Alwyn, playing Harry Lee, also suggested grabbing some refreshments. “Go and get a stiff drink and some popcorn if you want,” Alwyn said.
Alessandro Nivola, portraying Tóth’s cousin Attila, said, “Well, take a piss depending on the state of your prostate. The thing I like about it is that it gives you the chance to think about the movie for a little bit and settle in before the second half starts. But the sky’s the limit. If you need to go outside and do some calisthenics or a little yoga, I’m all for it.”
Corbet and writer Mona Fastvold humorously suggested some risqué behavior be done during the break.
- Corbet: “Smoke at least three cigarettes.”
- Fastvold: “Run to the bathroom, and then get a drink.”
- Corbet: “Or f**k in the bathroom.” [Laughs]
- Fastvold: “Yes, yes! [Laughs] But I don’t know if that goes with this movie or not.”
The intermission will feature music played by pianist John Tilbury. When discussing his admiration for the music, the film’s composer, Daniel Blumberg said, “The intermission is a beautiful moment where you can hear the pianist writing notes on his stave, and you can hear his piano store creaking.” Blumberg suggested that the audience don’t leave their seats at all so they can embrace the sounds. “Sit in your seat. Don’t have a cigarette. Don’t go to the toilet. Just listen.”
The Brutalist cinematographer Lol Crawley, emphasized how emotional and audacious this film is. “It takes a moment to process. I would suggest that they take some time to think about the film, take it in for a moment, and settle in for the second half,” he said. “Having an intermission is a really really interesting idea, so enjoy it.”
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