This article contains mentions of rape.
After its release ofThe Brutalistin late 2024, the movie has garnered a lot of well-deserved praise. Despite its massive runtime, clocking in at well over three hours, the tension and drama ofthe well-reviewedThe Brutalistmean that it more than earns each act. Already, the cast and crew ofThe Brutalisthave racked up Academy Award nominations, and the film itself has been nominated for Best Picture.FromAdrien Brody’s Oscar-nominated performanceas Hungarian-Jewish architect László Tóth to the spellbinding cinematography,The Brutalistbuilds upon its themes in every frame.
The Brutalist’s epilogue is central to this theming. While the main plot wraps up in the late 1950s, the final act of the film, “Epilogue: The First Architecture Biennale” is set in 1980.In its final moments,The Brutalistexpands its scope from a single architectural project of László’s, to an entire lifetime of work.These final scenes completely reframe the conflict ofThe Brutalist, showing László’s ability to rise above what seemed like insurmountable traumas, and the film would be incomplete without them. Interestingly, however, some of the central characters inThe Brutalistare absent in the epilogue.
Harrison Disappears After Being Accused Of Raping László
Erzsébet Calls Harrison Out, And He Is Never Seen Again
Perhaps the most startlingly absent character in the epilogue ofThe Brutalistis László Tóth’s patron, Harrison Lee Van Buren Sr. (Guy Pearce). In part one ofThe Brutalist, Harrison serves as László’s patron in more ways than one: he not only hires László as an architect and houses him on the Van Buren estate, but Harrison also introduces László to the lawyer who brings László’s wife Erzsébet (Felicity Jones) and niece Zsófia (Raffey Cassidy) to America.In the beginning, Harrison seems like he might be the greatest thing to happen to László in years.
Although at first László seems content with Harrison’s patronage, even in part one it is clear that Harrison doesn’t care that much about László or his art. Harrison calls in other architects to cut costs, for example, and frequently goes behind László’s back.
This does not last. In part two, their relationship first falls apart when Harrison terminates László’s construction project and becomes unsalvageable when Harrison rapes László in an Italian cave. While at first, it seems like László will never see any justice, Erzsébet interrupts one of Harrison’s dinner parties to publicly accuse him of rape.It is this confrontation that causes Harrison to first run out of his mansion and, apparently,The Brutalistitself.Whether it is guilt, shame, or something else that drives Harrison away, once Erzsébet turns her back on him, he is never again on screen.
The Brutalist’s Epilogue Completely Ignores Harrison’s Fate
And It Wouldn’t Work Any Other Way
The fact that Harrison is not mentioned in the epilogue ofThe Brutalistis exceptional.While Harrison is not the only character absent in the epilogue, his is the only absence that goes unremarked. Erzsébet, for example, is also missing. Erzsébet’s absence, however, is explained by a middle-aged Zsófia: Erzsébet evidently passed away some years earlier. The loss of Erzsébet is explained and is meaningful, but the loss of Harrison apparently needs no explanation.
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In terms of screentime, Harrison was a more prominent character than Erzsébet. In terms of the world ofThe Brutalist, the unimaginably wealthy Harrison Lee Van Buren Sr. was also certainly more prominent than refugee and Holocaust survivor, Erzsébet.And yet, in the end, Harrison’s absence is unremarkable, whereas Erzsébet is mourned.The reason for this is obvious: despite Harrison’s immense wealth, power, and prestige, his contributions to Erzsébet and László’s life are, ultimately, unimportant.
Despite Harrison’s immense wealth, power, and prestige, his contributions to Erzsébet and László’s life are, ultimately, unimportant.
The establishing shots of the epilogue show all the other libraries, community centers, churches, and synagogues that László has built in his decades of success.Although the Van Buren Community Center is an important part of László’s lifetime accomplishments, the Van Buren’s themselves are not.Most of his success came afterward, and the powerful man who kept László under his thumb for years does not even merit a footnote. So, although it is surprising at first that Harrison is not mentioned in the epilogue, it really wouldn’t make sense for him to be there in the end.
Did Harrison Die In The Brutalist’s Ending?
There Are No Clear Answers, But Signs Point To Yes
Just because Harrison did not deserve recognition in the epilogue andending ofThe Brutalistdoes not erase lingering questions about what happened to him. And, of course,the looming question is whether Harrison is dead.In Harrison’s final scene, he is accused of rape and is seemingly unable to respond. His son, Harrison Lee Van Buren Jr., or Harry (Joe Alwyn), physically throws Erzsébet out of the Van Buren dining room, but when he turns back to Harrison, his father is gone. Although Harry searches both the property and the community center, he is not able to find his father.
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Part two ends with a shot panning up from a marble altar in the church László built to the cross in the ceiling.Metaphorically, the altar and the cross both suggest that Harrison has met a mortal fate.They are symbols of lethal religious sacrifice, and it is with a meditation on those deadly symbols that Harrison’s story ends.
The very fact that László went on to have a successful career suggests that Harrison died.
