At the most inopportune time—on the verge of its international release and just before Oscar nominations are announced—a controversy has marred The Brutalist’s impeccable performance. The film portrays the life of architect László Toth, who arrives in the U.S. to rebuild his career after fleeing postwar Europe. The use of AI tools in post-production lies at the heart of the controversy.
Two acts and an intermission. Curiously, the film is entirely dedicated to classic cinema. It was shot on VistaVision, a format not used since One-Eyed Jacks in 1961, runs three and a half hours, and features two acts separated by an intermission. Such classicism has been well-rewarded: a Silver Lion for best director at Venice, three Golden Globes (best dramatic film, best dramatic actor, and best director), and nine BAFTA nominations. But the shadow of AI threatens to tarnish this polished resume.
The use of AI tools. The production used AI tools for two purposes. First, MidJourney helped design buildings in the film’s final sequence, set during a retrospective of the protagonist’s work at the Venice Biennale. These designs were based on drawings from an AI model, which an artist later reinterpreted for the film. The director, however, denied this use and dismissed it as a rumor stemming from statements by editor Dávid Jancsó.
More controversially, Respeecher, a vocal AI program, enhanced the accents of Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones, who play Hungarian immigrants. Brody speaks fluent Hungarian, but his accent didn’t entirely align with that of a native speaker, prompting the production to refine it using AI tools.
The limits of interpretation. This decision opens debate. The director initially considered dubbing the dialogue but opted for AI tools to improve the Hungarian accents, with the actors’ consent. Could this choice jeopardize Brody’s Oscar chances? Is it ethical? Should a performance altered by AI models still qualify for recognition?
Tool or intervention? The director clarified that the retouching applied only to the Hungarian dialogue, refining vowels and letters for greater precision. The Brutalist isn’t the only movie this year to use Respeecher: Emilia Pérez combined Karla Sofía Gascón’s voice with French artist Camille’s to expand the actress’s vocal range for musical numbers. Is it justifiable to tweak minor accents in a less-common language or artificially enhance singing for a musical?
Fair demands. The indiscriminate use of AI tools was a key issue during recent Hollywood strikes, where actors and screenwriters secured contracts to protect their image and copyrights. As AI models grow more sophisticated, the film industry must modify agreements to safeguard artists’ rights. In The Brutalist, the production used AI systems with the actors’ permission, but defining the line between tools and exploitation remains essential.
Image | A24
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