12/20
Between March 16 and May 5, 2023
Narrative
When visionary architect László Tóth and his wife Erzsébet flee post-war Europe in 1947 to rebuild their legacy and witness the birth of modern America, their lives are forever changed by a mysterious and wealthy client. Filming took place over a total of 34 days.
Filmed in Budapest, Hungary and Carrara, Italy
Close-up Reference: Why Do We Need the Venice Film Festival? (2024).
Blumberg’s music adds to this, making the theater a perfect habitat
This ambitious post-war American epic opens with a captivating long sequence that surely lasts longer than its 3:35-hour running time. The 70mm format fits the setting while making the film visually stunning with daring camerawork and stunning photography.
The script delivers interesting characters – although the secondary characters are purely cosmetic – which are enhanced by great performances from Brody and Pearce
The problem here is in the final hour, as the writers choose to insert unexplored subplots that prevent the film from properly concluding, leaving a bitter feeling of unfinished business and preventing this monumental project from achieving what it set out to do.