Allow us to introduce you to our Lady in Spain, Lily Afuera, who has sent us an article on the sensational silent movie revivalist film The Artist which looks set to clean up at the Oscars ceremony tomorrow night...
Last week I discovered a little gem, tucked away in one of Madrid's back streets. It's a tiny cinema by the name of Cine Dore, which was built in 1912 and still continues to show films to this day. Amongst the art-house originals and the classics, it often shows some popular films, a year or two after their release. Last week, however, it was Marilyn Monroe's classic, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, that saw me donning my monochrome heels and black woolen coat with the (faux- of course) fur collar.
After searching for the cinema for almost an hour, we got to the ticket box 30 minutes before the film was due to start- only to be told that the people in front of us had bought the last tickets. We headed inside and sipped a café con leche in the lounge. Despite our setback, I was still determined to see a film- and one that my dolled-up outfit was suited for.
Only one came to mind. The Artist.
We headed to Madrid's Renoir Cinema on Calle Princesa. Although it's a relatively recent addition to the capital, it still carries a sense of old-world Spanish charm. We bought our tickets and popcorn and headed into the film.
From the moment that the music started, I was captivated. At home, I generally never had the patience to watch a silent film, but in the darkness The Artist carried me right into the 1930s. For a brief moment when the lights came on, I was slightly surprised by the contemporary clothes that the people around me were wearing!
The costumes, hair and make-up in the film are flawless. They are perfectly representative of the era. Watching the dancing made me feel like I've missed out in a big way- why can't men dance anymore? The music was well-suited to every scene and carried the story wonderfully. The few instances of sound that were used were extremely clever- especially one in particular at the end of the film. Anyone that has seen it will know what I'm talking about, but I won't say anymore for fear of spoiling it!
The camera work is quite clever and gives an authentic feel to the film. Rather than filling the cinema screen in a conventional size, the film only takes up about a third of the width of the cinema screen. I loved that the edges of the lens were kept in the corner of the shot, blurring and darkening it slightly.
The casting was flawless. Although Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo embodied their characters to a tee, it was Uggie the Jack Russell that stole the show. The dog stole the hearts of every viewer and was an important a character as any. He was awarded the Palm Dog award in Cannes, and as a result of such an excellent performance, there have been calls to open other awards to dogs too!
After seeing the film, I went onto IMDB to see if there were many goofs or mistakes recorded in the film. Apart from a few miniscule details, there was nothing worth noting.
It has been a relief to finally see a contemporary film that can be carried simply by a storyline and acting, rather than depending on unnecessary violence and sex.
The Artist has been nominated for 10 Oscars. It has won a staggering 75 awards and has been nominated for a further 69. In this lady's opinion- it deserves all that it gets- and more.
By Lily Afuera
The Artist is still showing in Irish cinemas. To find a cinema viewing nearest to you, click here.
The Artist logo has been sourced from Wikimedia Commons.
Lily Afuera is an Irish media student currently studying in Madrid, on an Erasmus year. She writes about her experiences there on her blog, Girl, Abroad.
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