The upcoming epic period drama 'The Brutalist' is bringing back a classic cinema tradition by incorporating a 15-minute intermission into its theatrical release. The film, directed by Brady Corbet and starring Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones, runs for 215 minutes and follows the story of László Tóth, a Hungarian-Jewish architect building a new life in post-war America.
The planned intermission serves multiple purposes, according to editor Dávid Jancsó. "We knew the film was going to be long and since Brady and I are hardcore moviegoers we know it's good to allow the audience time to go out," he explained. The 15-minute break was specifically chosen to match the length of a film reel.
Unlike modern intermissions where theater curtains close, 'The Brutalist' features a screened intermission where the film continues to roll with blank footage. This artistic choice deliberately echoes the theatrical presentation style of 1950s and 60s epic films.
The intermission also serves a narrative purpose, marking a clear division between two distinct chapters of the protagonist's life. While there were initial plans to include live music during the premiere's intermission, these did not materialize in the final presentation.
Shot predominantly on VistaVision, a format last widely used in Hollywood during the 1960s, 'The Brutalist' spans three decades of American history. The film's ambitious scope and runtime make it a fitting candidate to revive the intermission tradition, offering audiences a chance to digest its complex narrative while paying homage to cinema's golden age.
The decision to include an intermission reflects a broader trend of filmmakers reconsidering how audiences experience lengthy theatrical presentations, potentially paving the way for other extended features to follow suit.