I’ve seen a few silent films recently. Metropolis (1927) was part of last year’s Leeds International Film Festival and was an enjoyable watch. During this year’s Light Night, Nosferatu (1922) was more of an endurance test. So I was intrigued by the silent movie advertised at the LIFF25 Opening Gala – The Artist (Dir. Michel Hazanavicius, 2011). A silent movie, made this year? What would it be like? The trailer had me hooked. It appears it hooked a great many other people – when it was shown on the final day of the festival at Hyde Park Picture House, it was completely sold out.
The Artist focuses on the trials and tribulations of two actors in 1920s and ’30s Hollywood – George Valentin (Jean Dujardin), silent movie star, and Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo), a dancer-turned-actress making a name for herself in the new talkies. They each make a film that premier on the same night, and George loses out in the head-to-head and falls into a drunken, impoverished life (he can’t even afford to pay his chauffeur). This leads to Peppy looking out for George and ultimately they fall in love.
The whole film is shot in black-and-white and is largely silent, except for a few moments when sound is used to great effect. I won’t spoil it but it reminded me of another superb film shown at LIFF25, The Sound of Noise, whose main character is baffled by selective deafness, some things becoming silent, others remaining noisy.
Although Jean Dujardin deservedly won Best Actor for this film at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, his character’s sidekick in the film has also won awards, namely his dog, Jack (Uggie). His performance is hilarious and completely endearing, epitomising all you could ever want in a showbiz hound (cuteness, tricks, rescues, the works!). He collected the Palme Dog Award at Cannes for best canine performance.
This film was a big hit with the Hyde Park audience – at the touching finale, it won a roaring round of applause. I’m really pleased to see that it has earned LIFF25’s Official Selection Audience Award. It is a stunning film: captivating, comical and utterly charming. It has fun with silent movie clichés like exaggerated facial expressions and slapstick comedy while achieving real moments of poignancy. Combined with fabulous choreography, a toe-tapping score and a dash of fantasy, The Artist is one of my favourite films of the festival and an absolute must-see.
On general release 30th December.
Not yet rated; 100 mins.
The Artist was shown as part of the 2011 Leeds International Film Festival. For more information see the official website at www.leedsfilm.com.
Hannah Bisson is a founding member of The Leeds Savage Club, a group of writers and sketchers from around Leeds.
I have to say this is my idea of celluloid hell!