AI controversy surrounds ‘The Brutalist’ as director clarifies limited use in accents and visuals

A sudden controversy over AI usage in film has emerged around “The Brutalist,” with director Brady Corbet addressing concerns about the technology’s role in modifying actors’ Hungarian accents and creating visual elements.

Key developments: Director Brady Corbet has issued a detailed response to criticism regarding the use of AI technology in his film “The Brutalist,” specifically addressing concerns about accent modification and visual effects.

• Corbet emphasized that leads Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones worked extensively with dialect coach Tanera Marshall to develop their Hungarian accents
• The AI tool Respeecher was used only to refine specific Hungarian language vowels and letters, with no modifications made to English dialogue
• The film’s architectural images were hand-drawn by artists, not AI-generated, though some elements were intentionally designed to resemble 1980s-era digital renderings

Technical clarification: The film’s post-production process incorporated AI in specific, limited ways while maintaining the integrity of the actors’ performances.

• The accent refinement was conducted as a manual process by the sound team in collaboration with Respeecher
• Editor Dávid Jancsó defended the AI usage, stating it primarily served to accelerate existing production techniques
• The technology was employed to enhance details that budget and time constraints made difficult to capture through traditional means

Director’s perspective: Corbet’s response emphasizes the film’s commitment to authentic human artistry and craftsmanship.

• The director stressed that the film remains fundamentally about human complexity
• All aspects of production were driven by human effort, creativity, and collaboration
• The use of AI was implemented with “utmost respect for the craft” of the performers and production team

Industry implications: The controversy surrounding “The Brutalist” highlights the ongoing debate about AI’s role in filmmaking.

• Jancsó advocates for open discussion about AI’s potential as a production tool
• The situation raises questions about transparency in how AI is used in film production
• The controversy reflects broader industry concerns about the balance between technological advancement and traditional filmmaking methods

Looking ahead: This incident may serve as a catalyst for establishing clearer industry standards regarding AI disclosure in film production, particularly as the technology becomes more prevalent in various aspects of moviemaking. The key question remains how to integrate new tools while preserving the artistic integrity that audiences expect from cinema.