Expert on the rewards of silent film
The film, The Artist, was part of the official selection at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year and it is now being positioned as an Oscar contender.
If it does get a nomination for best picture, it will be the first time since 1928 that a silent film has been in the running for a best picture Academy Award.
Bryony Dixon, a silent film expert from the BFI, told BBC News that because silent films require more concentration, the rewards of watching them are richer than action blockbusters.
08 Dec 2011