Moviegoers are transported back to the 1920s with the latest film premiering at the London Film Festival.
'The Artist', a silent black-and white romance, is set in Hollywood in the late 1920s and early 1930s as cinema was undergoing a shift from silent to sound.
Central hero George Valentin refuses to believe that sound is the future, and after the economic crash of 1929 falls on hard times.
Up-and-coming actress Peppy Miller meets him and falls in love, but as he fades from the limelight she becomes a superstar and their paths divide.
Berenice Bejo, who plays Peppy Miller, says although watching a silent movie will be new for many moviegoers, playing a silent movie actress was not that difficult:
SOUNDBITE Berenice Bejo, actress, saying (English):
"It was actually not so different because I actually talk during the set and what I say you can't hear but you can read it. So as an actress I work exactly the same."
'The Artist' is in sharp contrast to many high-tech 3D blockbuster releases. But Bejo says the absence of modern technologies is not necessarily a weakness:
SOUNDBITE Berenice Bejo, actress, saying (English):
"Because the story is beautiful and -- people can relate to the story and I think when the story is good whatever it's 3D or not I mean -- you don't care and there's room for everything. I mean I love 3D and I love animation movies so I just think people are not stupid and when you know they have a good story they wanna go and see it. It's not a question of effects."
The film already proved itself at the Cannes Film Festival taking the best actor award and is fast attracting Oscar whispers:
SOUNDBITE Berenice Bejo, actress, saying (English):
"I think the movie should -- should go to the Oscars and deserves something. There is definitely a director behind this movie and point of view very strong -- and I think ya -- he deserve it now."
Moviegoers will be able to enjoy this novel cinematic experience from November 23 when the film is released in the UK.
Mirja Mey, Reuters.
