Jan. 24, 2025

Faithspotting "The Brutalist"

Faithspotting

Kenny and Mike review and discuss faith reflected in the Academy Award nominated film starring Adrien Brody.  Written, produced and directed by Brady Corbet, the film shows the story of a Hungarian-Jewish holocaust survior, Laszlo Toth (Brody)...

Kenny and Mike review and discuss faith reflected in the Academy Award nominated film starring Adrien Brody.  Written, produced and directed by Brady Corbet, the film shows the story of a Hungarian-Jewish holocaust survior, Laszlo Toth (Brody) who imigrates to the United States following World War 2. A renowned architect in Europe, Toth comes to Philadelphia with only a suitcase and an invitation to stay with a cousin who imigrated earlier. After a fallout with his cousin, Toth, living in a shelter, is sought out by industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren (Guy Pearce) for whom he and his cousin had done work, and was the catalyst for their fallout. Van Buren offers Toth a commission to design a very large civic center and chapel for his hometown outside of Philadelphia.  

Following an intermission, the second part of the 3 hour 20 minute film begins with the arrival of Laszlo's wife Erzsebeth (Felicity Jones) and Laszlo's niece Zsofia (Raffey Cassidy) who does not speak and cares for Erzsebeth who is confined to a wheelchair as a result of her time in a concentration camp. The film depicts the struggles the Toth's face rebuilding their lives and relationship after a long separation and in the midst of Van Buren's and societal disdain for them. 

Faith Spotted:

Gifts for service to the Church as well as talents in life are given by God. People should be humble in their use and any recognition that comes with the talents and gifts.  Gifts to God and communities should be to glorify God and serve the community rather than glorify the individual or family giving it. We are called to be stewards of the gifts and talents God has given us.

We are to be truly welcoming and accepting persons of other faiths and cultures including imigrants and refugees who are fleeing danger and or seeking to start a new life. Welcoming includes offering hospitiality and love to others as we do our neighbors.