Brady Corbet defends long films at Venice festival 2023

At the Venice Film Festival 2023, Brady Corbet premiered his film The Brutalist, which runs for 215 minutes and includes a 15-minute intermission. The film tells the story of László Tóth, a Hungarian architect who survived the Holocaust and faced numerous challenges in pursuit of the American dream. Corbet defended the film's lengthy runtime, arguing that it is essential to fully capture the complexity of the narrative, likening it to critiquing a lengthy book. He emphasized the need for filmmakers to have the freedom to explore their stories without being constrained by traditional runtime expectations. The festival has seen a trend of longer films, with several titles exceeding two hours, reflecting a shift in audience preferences and the competitive landscape of cinema versus streaming services. Corbet's comments resonate with a broader conversation about the evolving nature of film, where longer runtimes can offer richer storytelling experiences. He expressed his emotional connection to the project, having worked on it for seven years, and highlighted the importance of artistic integrity in filmmaking. Actors like Adrien Brody and Isaach de Bankolé also contributed to the discussion, with de Bankolé noting that the length of a film does not dictate the depth of its narrative. This sentiment aligns with the growing acceptance of longer films, despite some audience resistance. Research indicates that while longer films are becoming more common, only a small percentage of viewers are comfortable with runtimes exceeding 150 minutes. As the industry grapples with these changes, the integration of intermissions in films like The Brutalist may serve as a compromise, allowing audiences to engage with longer narratives without losing their attention. This trend suggests a potential shift in how films are produced and consumed, paving the way for more ambitious storytelling in cinema.