Brand Upon the Brain seems like the perfect example of homage: it’s contemporary enough in subject matter and technical skill but also undeniably loyal and fond of its roots. Everything from its execution to its casting of doe-eyed girls is reminiscent of silents except it’s tighter and moves faster. I felt the narration by Rossellini was good but unnecessary as the images and title cards amply supplied anything I needed to know but it’s nothing that would serve to break the movie in any way. Yet, this was definitely about visuals and a move away from the tendency now to use dialogue to propel a story. I doubt Brain would bring about a resurgence in silent films but it certainly makes a case for why they’re still significant.