‘The Brutalist’ Director Says AI Was Used for Refining the Hungarian Dialogue in the Movie

The film The Brutalist, which has already earned three Golden Globes, has been making some serious buzz for its use of AI in post-production. Directed by Brady Corbet, the movie focuses on Hungarian Jewish architect László Tóth, played by Adrien Brody, as he rebuilds his life in the United States after surviving the Holocaust. Felicity Jones co-stars as Tóth’s wife, Erzsébet, in this 215-minute epic that spans three decades.

The controversy around The Brutalist emerged after it was revealed that AI was used to refine the Hungarian accents in the actors’ performances. Corbet clarified that the technology, called Respeecher, was employed solely for the Hungarian-language dialogue.

According to Corbet, the process was manual and aimed to enhance the accuracy of vowels and letters without altering the actors’ performances. “Adrien and Felicity’s performances are completely their own,” Corbet said, emphasizing their dedication in working with dialect coach Tanera Marshall to perfect their accents.

The director also addressed misconceptions about AI being used for visuals in the film. He explained that all architectural blueprints featured in the closing sequence were hand-drawn by artists, not generated by AI. Only a memorial video in the background of a shot was designed to resemble poor digital renderings from the 1980s, created intentionally by the editorial team.

Editor Dávid Jancsó, who is a native Hungarian speaker, also weighed in, explaining that while Brody and Jones delivered impressive performances in a challenging language, AI helped fine-tune their dialogue for perfection.

Jancsó said, “We use AI to create these tiny little details that we didn’t have the money or time to shoot.” He added that AI should be seen as a tool to streamline processes, not as a replacement for creative efforts.

The film has received widespread acclaim, including nominations at prestigious award shows like the SAG Awards, BAFTA, and Critics Choice Awards. With a 93% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and an 83% audience score, The Brutalist has been well-received by both critics and viewers. Its rich storytelling and Corbet’s emphasis on human effort and creativity have earned the movie a spot among the year’s standout films.

The Brutalist was shot in Hungary with a modest budget under $10 million and distributed by A24 in the U.S. After its December 20, 2024, release, the film continues to garner attention for its achievements and the discussions it has sparked about AI in filmmaking.

What do you think about AI being used in movies like The Brutalist? Share your thoughts in the comments below!