Speechless winner

For the first time since 1929, a silent film took home the award for Best Picture at the 84th Academy Awards on Sunday.

The Artist – a story about Hollywood’s rocky transition from silent films to ‘talkies’ – is one of only two silent films to have earned the accolade (the other being 1929’s Wings).

Incidentally, it was also the first time that a French director (Michel Hazanavicius) and a French actor (Jean Dujardin) won for Best Director and Best Actor for their work on The Artist.

Many of our favourite films and talents were duly recognised that night. But The Artist is probably the purest example of a simple truth that has always inspired us:

Despite all the digital effects in the world, nothing beats the power of a story well told.