Moviegoers are transported back to the 1920s with the latest film premiering at the London Film Festival.<br/> '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.<br/> Central hero George Valentin refuses to believe that sound is the future, and after the economic crash of 1929 falls on hard times.<br/> 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.<br/> 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:<br/> SOUNDBITE Berenice Bejo, actress, saying (English):<br/> "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."<br/> '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:<br/> SOUNDBITE Berenice Bejo, actress, saying (English):<br/> "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."<br/> The film already proved itself at the Cannes Film Festival taking the best actor award and is fast attracting Oscar whispers:<br/> SOUNDBITE Berenice Bejo, actress, saying (English):<br/> "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."<br/> Moviegoers will be able to enjoy this novel cinematic experience from November 23 when the film is released in the UK.<br/> Mirja Mey, Reuters.
