On the Nose

An Unproductive Ambiguity


Listen Later

Brady Corbet’s epic Academy Award-nominated film, The Brutalist, traces the career and personal life of fictional architect and Holocaust survivor László Toth, played by Adrien Brody, as he seeks to find his place in the United States after World War II. In this episode of On the Nose, contributing writer Rebecca Pierce, associate editor Mari Cohen, contributing editor Siddhartha Mahanta, and contributor Noah Kulwin unpack the film’s symbolic use of Israel and Zionism as an apparent solution to the racialized antisemitism faced by its Jewish characters upon their arrival in the US. The conversation delves into the film’s explorations of post-Holocaust Jewish life and American racialized white supremacy, as well as the contrast between its clear artistic vision and ambiguous politics. This episode includes spoilers for the film and discussions of its onscreen depictions of sexual violence.

Thanks to Jesse Brenneman for producing and to Nathan Salsburg for the use of his song “VIII (All That Were Calculated Have Passed).”

Texts Mentioned and Further Resources:

About the Destination: The Brutalist and Israel,” Noah Kulwin, Screen Slate

Adrien Brody Addresses Backlash Over Halle Berry Oscars Kiss—but Stops Short Of Apologizing,” Kelby Vera, Huffington Post

The Suppressed Lineage of American Jewish Dissent on Israel,” Emma Saltzberg, Jewish Currents

The Tribes of America by Paul Cowan

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

On the NoseBy Jewish Currents

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

210 ratings


More shows like On the Nose

View all
Behind the News with Doug Henwood by Doug Henwood

Behind the News with Doug Henwood

493 Listeners

Democracy Now! Audio by Democracy Now!

Democracy Now! Audio

5,663 Listeners

Between The Covers : Conversations with Writers in Fiction, Nonfiction & Poetry by David Naimon, Tin House Books

Between The Covers : Conversations with Writers in Fiction, Nonfiction & Poetry

443 Listeners

Jacobin Radio by Jacobin

Jacobin Radio

1,399 Listeners

The Dig by Daniel Denvir

The Dig

1,520 Listeners

Judaism Unbound by Institute for the Next Jewish Future

Judaism Unbound

422 Listeners

The Intercept Briefing by The Intercept

The Intercept Briefing

6,115 Listeners

Citations Needed by Nima Shirazi and Adam Johnson

Citations Needed

3,872 Listeners

Death Panel by Death Panel

Death Panel

526 Listeners

Know Your Enemy by Matthew Sitman

Know Your Enemy

1,905 Listeners

Movement Memos by Truthout

Movement Memos

203 Listeners

Time To Say Goodbye by Time To Say Goodbye

Time To Say Goodbye

403 Listeners

Ordinary Unhappiness by Patrick & Abby

Ordinary Unhappiness

201 Listeners

Makdisi Street by Makdisi Bros.

Makdisi Street

451 Listeners

Bad Hasbara - The World's Most Moral Podcast by Matt Lieb

Bad Hasbara - The World's Most Moral Podcast

1,336 Listeners