It's 1927, and suave moustachioed silent movie star George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) is one of the biggest names in Hollywood.

He's dashing and very arrogant, and his on-screen antics have women swooning at his feet; including Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo), a young dancer set for a big break.

But silent movies are about to be washed away by new-fangled talkies. The idol begins to wonder what the arrival of talking pictures will mean for him. He doesn’t want to fade into oblivion, but he can’t stand those damned talkies.

When his studio boss Zimmer (John Goodman) offers him a chance to start in the exciting new format, Valentin rejects it straight off vowing to work on his own epic silent project.

When his movie proves to be a flop Valentin's life falls apart and his star wanes. It is as if fate is playing a cruel joke on the Frenchman, as Peppy Miller, the young actress whose career he nurtured, is becoming a huge star.

The Artist is a heartfelt love letter to Hollywood's silent era. It is utterly charming and surprisingly hilarious.