'The Artist' Is So Good Because It's So French

After a sea of film releases that have promised much and delivered little, "The Artist" has distinguished itself as a brilliant and welcome relief from movie mediocrity. Recapturing the beauty without voice that vintage silent films brought to the screen, "The Artist" is an homage to the past, both in its imagination and its harsh reality. Though it's an old school style Hollywood film, presented here in English, there is a definite French quality that pervades the entire project. Even if your knowledge of French films consists of "Amelie" and that video of "The 400 Blows" you watched in high school cinema class, you should recognize that certain "Je ne sais quoi" that distinguishes French films from American ones.

The Actors

Since there are plenty of Americans in "The Artist," like John Goodman and Penelope Ann Miller, many moviegoers (like my husband) won't realize the two main characters are played by French actors. Jean Dujardin, who plays George Valentin, got his start in acting by performing a one-man show in "Parisian bars and cabarets." Berenice Bejo (Peppy Miller) was born in Argentina, but has lived in France since the age of 3, and acted mostly in French films since the age of 17.

There's a certain classic grace about French actors, balanced with the seemingly contradictory ability to do whimsy extremely well. George Clooney is probably the name that leaps to mind, particularly in something like "Ocean's 11," if you want to make a comparison to an American man. Being a little more comfortable with one's feminine side, at least as far as what we consider "feminine," is in order, and that brings us to Johnny Depp. It's interesting to note, then, that Depp has lived in France for quite some time.

That smooth confidence, versatility, and self-acceptance is what gives the characters in "The Artist" such plausibility. Bejo convincingly plays a character much younger than her real age, without any self-consciousness, her maturity adding the right amount of gravitas when needed in the film. Both actors move seamlessly between comedy and drama, carefully balancing between silent film emoting and overacting.

Ambiguity

Not always as impenetrable as a German film can be, French films nonetheless are not afraid of letting you figure a few things out on your own. "The Artist" uses title cards to convey pivotal points of dialogue and story, but there are a few scenes where quite a bit of conversation is going on with no translation. We are left to interpret what must have been said, by the character's expressions and reactions, and what follows that dialogue.

The scene when George admires the tuxedo in the shop window and is approached by a police officer is an example of a plot point left open to debate. While silent films did not always explain every line of dialogue, it feels very French to have no explanation for this exchange at all, particularly since it leads into the most serious drama of the film.

For Art's Sake

There is a lovely scene in "The Artist," when Peppy finds herself alone in George's dressing room on the set of a film. The two have shared a couple of moments of pure chemistry, and when she's confronted with his suit and hat on a hanger, she's overcome by a moment of fantasy. There's an intriguing bit of choreography as she wraps herself up in this faux George's embrace, and it's somehow funny, sensual, and poignant all at once. While it definitely displays her emotions, it's also just a pure piece of art in the middle of the narrative, and that is definitely very French.

What is also very French is that George's reaction when he walks in is neither horrified nor slapstick. Peppy does not freak out and knock things over and fall to the ground. While a bit surprised, there's nothing more than a teasing glance from George to acknowledge her embarrassment at being caught. Then it blends right into romantic tension, and we feel their connection even more keenly than before.

Dark Places

French movies are not afraid of confusing, infuriating, or dismal storylines and many tend to have tragic endings. While "The Artist" started off light and cheerful, it didn't shy away from all the despair that resulted from the double blow of a stock market crash and end of the silent film era. George's life goes from bad to worse in not much time at all, and this movie rode the slide all the way to the bottom.

French films are also not afraid to laugh at that despair. "The Artist" derives wicked humor from George's failing marriage and the discovery of some of his most ostentatious belongings after he'd sold them. It then solves a tragic scene with a bit of "gotcha" comedy. By the end of the film you're laughing through tears, and well, that is so, so very French.

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