Nominated for the Palme d Or at Cannes in May 2011, The Artist is a silent film directed by Michel Hazanavicius using the techniques and expressions reminiscent of old-time movie making. Composer Ludovic Bource s original music is brilliant and catchy in the spirit of Chaplin, Max Steiner and Franz Waxman and evokes the big romantic symphonic repertoire from the 19th Century. The music speaks and replaces the words it becomes part of the story and is essential to the film.