January 24, 2025 | By Muhammad Zulhusni
AI’s Role in Enhancing Performance in The Brutalist
When it comes to Oscar-worthy films this season, The Brutalist by Brady Corbet stands out. The visually stunning period drama tells the story of László Tóth, a Hungarian-Jewish architect played by Adrien Brody, who starts a new life in the United States post-World War II.
While the film beautifully captures the essence of the era, an unexpected modern twist lies behind the scenes: the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to perfect the actors’ Hungarian accents. This innovative approach has sparked discussions on how AI is shaping the film industry.
Refining Accents with AI: A Game-Changer in Film
To make the Hungarian dialogue more authentic, the film’s production team turned to Respeecher, an AI-powered voice-altering software developed by a Ukrainian company. Hungarian, a Uralic language known for its complex phonetics, posed a challenge for Brody and co-star Felicity Jones, despite their dedication to mastering the language.
Film editor Dávid Jancsó revealed that the AI tool helped tweak their pronunciation to make it sound more natural. Respeecher was used to adjust vowel sounds and tricky consonants, ensuring a more accurate portrayal. In some instances, Jancsó himself contributed voice snippets to maintain the actors’ original delivery. “Most of their Hungarian dialogue has a part of me talking in there,” he joked.
Respeecher: The AI Powering Hollywood’s Voices
Respeecher is no stranger to Hollywood. The software has been used to restore iconic voices, such as Darth Vader in Obi-Wan Kenobi, and to recreate the legendary voice of Edith Piaf for an upcoming biopic. Beyond entertainment, it has also played a role in preserving endangered languages, such as Crimean Tatar.
For The Brutalist, using AI wasn’t just about authenticity—it was also a cost-effective and time-saving solution. With a $10 million budget, manually correcting each line would have been an arduous process. AI sped up the workflow while ensuring the quality of dialogue remained intact.
AI’s Expanding Role in Filmmaking
Beyond voice enhancement, AI contributed to other aspects of The Brutalist as well. It was used to generate architectural sketches and enhance background visuals, such as completing buildings in the Venice Biennale sequence. However, director Corbet clarified that these AI-generated elements were only supplementary, not replacements for human creativity.
Film editor Jancsó emphasized, “There’s nothing in the film using AI that hasn’t been done before. It just makes the process a lot faster.” Corbet echoed this sentiment, explaining that AI was employed to enhance authenticity, not to overshadow the actors’ performances.
AI in Film: Innovation or Intrusion?
The use of AI in cinema is a topic of ongoing debate. The 2023 Writers Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA strikes highlighted concerns about AI’s impact on scriptwriting, voice acting, and music production. While regulations have been put in place, discussions continue about the ethical and creative implications of AI in the industry.
As The Brutalist eyes an Oscar nomination, the film is not just a tribute to Brutalist architecture and mid-century cinema—it is also part of a larger conversation about technology’s evolving role in storytelling. Whether viewed as a shortcut or an innovation, AI is undoubtedly reshaping how films are made.
Final Thoughts
The intersection of AI and creativity is one of the most exciting and controversial topics in modern filmmaking. With tools like Respeecher, AI is no longer just a behind-the-scenes gimmick but a powerful asset that enhances performance, efficiency, and authenticity.
As The Brutalist captivates audiences and critics alike, one thing is clear: AI is not replacing human talent—it’s amplifying it. And whether you embrace it or remain skeptical, AI is here to stay in the world of cinema.