Brutalism in Cinema
Brutalist architecture, characterized by its raw and austere aesthetic, plays a crucial role in crafting the emotional landscape and setting the atmospheric tone in dystopian cinema, where its imposing structures and stark, unadorned surfaces amplify feelings of isolation, monotony, and existential dread.
Brutalist architecture emerged in the United Kingdom in the 1950s, during the post-war period, and is a movement that houses some of the most impressive structures in world history. Recently, this movement has often been associated with cold geographies like Russia through social media, but in reality, it has been home to structures from all over the world. Brutalist architecture, which greatly influences people's lifestyles, has been expressing itself with certain emotions, especially in recent times. When it comes to revealing emotions, it is impossible to overlook cinema, the seventh art.
Sharp and thick blocks, cold stones, and a rough aesthetic… What exactly could these be telling? We can also add inner distress and blank facial expressions to these elements. Stories and acting are not the only elements that make up films. Emotions, framing, and feelings are also among the leading actors of cinema. I believe it is valuable to interpret how buildings affect these elements I have mentioned to such an extent.
cover art by Emmanuel Shiu (Blade Runner 2049)
How Brutalist Architecture Impacts the Narrative of Boredom
The use of Brutalist architecture in cinema generally stems from the effort to create the monotony, confinement, and cold atmosphere of characters and the city. Brutalist architecture, which embodies all the necessary features for a dystopian narrative, frequently appears in timeless productions such as "Blade Runner 2049" and "A Clockwork Orange." There is an obvious common aspect in the language of both films: the gloom of the main characters. "Blade Runner 2049" differs in one aspect: set design. Set design is the backbone of a dystopian narrative. The gloomy mood that can be sensed even from the walls and people trapped in cities permeates the entire narrative.
Inner distress is a feeling that can be depicted in many ways in cinema. Producing this feeling might be easier than conveying general emotions like happiness and sadness because it is necessary to build a specific feeling on a more confined structure. This is where the use of Brutalist architecture becomes a lifesaver. Films like "Equilibrium" and "Dune" that try to convey a layered context indirectly nourish the narrative by utilizing the gloomy atmosphere of Brutalist architecture.
‘’Severance’’ the TV Series that aired on Apple TV since 2022.
Why is Brutalist Architecture Important in Cinema?
The use of space in cinema has always been important and has nourished the narrative. Creating an atmosphere and determining the tempo through that atmosphere clearly reveals what you should expect from the film you're watching. In today's cinema, we are beginning to see examples where mainstream stories are told in a more gloomy manner. We can take "The Batman" (2022) as an example of this. Although "The Batman" is adorned with Gothic architecture, I can say that it's a good example to see the effect of gloomy architecture on cinema.
Brutalist architecture brings not only a gloomy attitude but also an ideal space design to create tension and make one feel isolated. We hope to see more examples of Brutalist architecture in cinema to continue saying, "He/she is literally me!"
