Brady Corbet’s *The Brutalist* has risen as one of the most discussed films of this year’s awards season, with many anticipating it will earn a desirable Best Picture nomination at the Oscars. Set in the post-World War II era, the film chronicles the odyssey of László Tóth (portrayed by Adrien Brody), a fictional Hungarian-Jewish architect compelled to move to the United States, leaving his family behind.
The film’s commitment to its artistic vision is apparent not just in its investigation of Brutalism—the signature architectural style of the postwar period—but also in its tribute to mid-20th-century American film. Shot predominantly in VistaVision, a widescreen format that fell out of favor in the 1960s with the advent of 70mm and CinemaScope, *The Brutalist* elevates its theatrical presentations into a noteworthy event. The film boasts an extensive runtime of three hours and 34 minutes, highlighted by a 15-minute intermission, further evoking the splendor of classic cinema.
This nostalgic revival of the cinematic grandeur of the past has ignited discussions, particularly surrounding the film’s application of AI technology. While some consider its integration of AI as a disavowal of traditional filmmaking, others regard it as a useful tool for enriching storytelling. This discourse extends beyond *The Brutalist*, as the film industry navigates the increasing presence of AI, evident in recent debates concerning projects like the horror movie *Late Night With the Devil*, Netflix’s sci-fi anime short *The Dog & The Boy*, and Marvel’s *Secret Invasion*.
### How Did *The Brutalist* Use AI?
In a conversation with *RedShark News*, editor Dávid Jancsó shared that the production team utilized AI software from Ukrainian company Respeecher to enhance the Hungarian pronunciation of Adrien Brody and co-star Felicity Jones. Hungarian, a Uralic language with intricate sounds unfamiliar to speakers of Anglo-Saxon languages, presented notable challenges for the actors.
Respeecher’s voice conversion technology operates by developing a database of an individual’s voice, capturing their accent and linguistic subtleties. It permits nuanced adjustments, such as amending specific sounds or letters. In *The Brutalist*, Jancsó clarified that the AI tool was sparsely employed to substitute challenging-to-pronounce letters while maintaining the authenticity of the actors’ performances. Interestingly, many of these modifications were provided by Jancsó himself, who is a native Hungarian speaker.
“Most of their Hungarian dialogue has a part of me talking in there,” Jancsó remarked. “We were very meticulous about preserving their performances. It’s mostly just changing letters here and there. You can accomplish this in ProTools on your own, but we had so much dialogue in Hungarian that we genuinely needed to expedite the process; otherwise, we’d still be in post-production.”
The utilization of Respeecher not only expedited the workflow but also assisted the production in adhering to its reasonable $10 million budget. Jancsó emphasized that these modifications would have occurred regardless of the technology, yet the AI tool notably expedited the procedure.
### What Else Does Respeecher Do?
Respeecher has become a preferred asset for Hollywood productions needing voice enhancements. The company gained prominence for reviving James Earl Jones’ legendary Darth Vader voice for the *Obi-Wan Kenobi* series after the actor’s retirement. It also recreated the voice of French chanteuse Edith Piaf for an upcoming biopic, permitting her to “narrate” her own tale posthumously. Beyond the entertainment sphere, Respeecher has played a role in preserving endangered languages, such as Crimean Tatar, which is facing suppression under Russian control in Crimea.
### Did *The Brutalist* Use AI for Anything Else?
Besides voice modifications, AI was also utilized to produce some of the architectural sketches and completed buildings showcased in the film’s Venice Biennale segment. While Jancsó did not identify which AI tool was employed or confirm whether the drawings were entirely AI-crafted, he acknowledged the escalating controversy regarding AI in film production.
“It is contentious in the industry to discuss AI, but it shouldn’t be,” Jancsó stated to *RedShark News*. “We should engage in a very open dialogue about what tools AI can offer us. There’s nothing in the film utilizing AI that hasn’t been accomplished before. It merely expedites the process. We utilize AI to create these minute details that we lacked the resources or time to capture.”
### The Broader Debate Around AI in Film
The application of generative AI in filmmaking has raised considerable alarm, especially among writers, actors, and other creatives. From screenwriting to music production, many are apprehensive that AI could supplant traditional roles in the industry. These fears were central to the 2023 Writers Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA strikes, which ultimately