<p> French director Michel Hazanavicius beat Hollywood biggies like Martin Scorsese and Woody Allen, to take home the best director Oscar for his adorable silent film ''The Artist'', a tribute to the early days of moviemaking.<br /><br /></p>.<p>It is the first Oscar for the 44-year-old Hazanavicius, who reversed the trend by making a silent, black and white love story.<br /><br />The film revolves around a silent superstar who fails to cope up with Hollywood's transition to sound where as an emerging starlet welcomes the changes in cinema.<br />Hazanavicius, who also wrote the screenplay and edited the film, has written and directed several French TV productions.<br /><br />Hazanavicius looked overwhelmed as he took to stage to accept his trophy.<br />The director muttered, "I forgot what to say" before recovering his composure. He then went on to thank people involved with the movie for backing a silent film.<br /><br />"The Artist", which has been nominated in 10 categories at the Oscars, brough Hazanavicius to international acclaim.<br /><br />The director's wife Berenice Bejo plays the starlet Peppy Miller in the film while French superstar Jean Dujardin plays the silent movie hero.<br /><br />Hazanavicius was competing against Terrence Malick's "The Tree of Life", Woody Allen for "Midnight in Paris", Alexander Payne for "The Descendants" and Martin Scorsese for "Hugo."<br /><br />"The Artist" also won the Golden Globe for best picture.</p>
<p> French director Michel Hazanavicius beat Hollywood biggies like Martin Scorsese and Woody Allen, to take home the best director Oscar for his adorable silent film ''The Artist'', a tribute to the early days of moviemaking.<br /><br /></p>.<p>It is the first Oscar for the 44-year-old Hazanavicius, who reversed the trend by making a silent, black and white love story.<br /><br />The film revolves around a silent superstar who fails to cope up with Hollywood's transition to sound where as an emerging starlet welcomes the changes in cinema.<br />Hazanavicius, who also wrote the screenplay and edited the film, has written and directed several French TV productions.<br /><br />Hazanavicius looked overwhelmed as he took to stage to accept his trophy.<br />The director muttered, "I forgot what to say" before recovering his composure. He then went on to thank people involved with the movie for backing a silent film.<br /><br />"The Artist", which has been nominated in 10 categories at the Oscars, brough Hazanavicius to international acclaim.<br /><br />The director's wife Berenice Bejo plays the starlet Peppy Miller in the film while French superstar Jean Dujardin plays the silent movie hero.<br /><br />Hazanavicius was competing against Terrence Malick's "The Tree of Life", Woody Allen for "Midnight in Paris", Alexander Payne for "The Descendants" and Martin Scorsese for "Hugo."<br /><br />"The Artist" also won the Golden Globe for best picture.</p>
