For most of the time, the Grand Théâtre Lumière in Cannes is like a cathedral, in which the art of cinema is worshipped in hushed tones. On at least one day during this year's Festival, though, it positively rocked with laughter, with even a few tears for good measure.
The occasion? The screening of The Artist, a film which few French critics thought ought to have been there in the first place because its director, Michel Hasnavicius, was best know for making commercial movies. So don't be put off by the synopsis - a silent black-and-white film full of in-jokes about the early days of cinema.
The Artist is, quite simply, a hoot. It's not really silent, of course: it's just there isn't any dialogue (or almost none) and the lead performance by Jean Dujardin (who picked up Best Actor at Cannes, beating the likes of Sean Penn and Brad Pitt) is sublime. He plays a pig-headed
director determined to ignore those new-fangled talkies and press on with his towering silent masterpiece, a romantic adventure set in darkest Africa.
The result is a joyous celebration of cinema worthy to be mentioned in the same breath as Singin' in the Rain.
The Artist shows tonight (October 18) at 7.30pm, Odeon West End and Saturday October 22 at 2.45pm, Vue 5
The 55th BFI London Film Festival, in partnership with American Express, runs until October 27. All venues, screening dates and times at www.bfi.org.uk, where booking is now open; also by telephone, 020 7928 3232 (9.30am-8.30pm daily), or in person at the box office of BFI Southbank, SE1 (11am-8.30pm daily). Stand-by tickets may be available 30 minutes before screening at the venue.
