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Parents' Guide to

The Artist

By Betsy Bozdech, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Loving tribute to silent films has a few tense moments.

Movie PG-13 2011 100 minutes
The Artist Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 12+

Based on 12 parent reviews

doctora
doctora Parent of 5-year-old
June 10, 2022
age 13+

At times intense ride with ups and downs and adorable dog

A film that surprises. I think the biggest surprise is how much you invest in the charisma of its main stars and are swept up in their lives through no dialogue. A wonderful statement on the power of silent films. Of course it is a contemporization of silent films but it still speaks to the power of the image and a solid score. Fun and chipper and complete with an adorable dog.
Lance6
Lance6 Parent of 14 and 17-year-old
April 5, 2016
age 10+

Wonderfully entertaining movie!

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 12 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In 1927 Hollywood, silent movie star George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) is the George Clooney of his era -- charming, handsome, and a huge box office success. Despite the fact that he's married, he's also a bit of a flirt, and when ingenue Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo) catches his eye, they share a few tender (though chaste) moments. As Peppy's career gradually takes off, George finds his own wings severely clipped by the advent of talkies; it's out with the old and in with the new, and George is definitively lumped in with the "old." Though his fortunes are far from what they used to be, George tries to stay positive -- but will his pride allow him to accept help when he needs it most?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (12 ):
Kids say (27 ):

THE ARTIST is a movie for people who love movies. It lovingly pays tribute to a glamorous Hollywood that no longer exists, celebrating starry-eyed girls dreaming of red carpet glory, mustachioed matinee idols, and audiences who wholeheartedly buy into the celluloid illusions that flicker in the dark. It touches on some dark themes -- the relentless nature of "progress," the risk of being marginalized by the latest technological achievement, the dangers of excessive pride -- but it's still ultimately an uplifting story about friendship, loyalty, and the power of the movies. And it definitely isn't without humor; director Michel Hazanavicius strategically (and playfully) uses the movie's few non-silent moments to elicit knowing laughs.

While the movie's two stars -- both of whom are delightful -- are French, the supporting cast is filled with faces that will be more familiar for American audiences, from John Goodman as a blustering studio executive to James Cromwell as a loyal chauffeur/valet. The score is excellent, the cinematography lovely (there's a reason directors like to film people smoking in black and white). The Artist may not appeal to kids as much as the similarly themed Singin' in the Rain, which is more upbeat and accessible overall, but for anyone who's passionate about cinema, it's a must-see.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why the filmmakers would want to make a silent movie today, when technology is so different. What's the appeal? Would the movie have been as effective if it was about silent movies but not silent itself?

  • Who do you think The Artist is intended to appeal to? How can you tell?

  • How does the fact that the movie is silent impact the way the actors behave on screen? What do you think would have been different if the movie had more dialogue?

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