A silent film is not simply a picture missing a soundtrack that you must supply in your imagination. Its images organise attention through movement, looks, posture and changes between shots. Intertitles may convey speech, but they do not explain every moment. Give the film time to establish its rhythm rather than measuring it immediately against the habits of a contemporary dialogue-driven production.
Check the version first
Historical silent films reach us through different surviving materials and releases. Restoration, accompaniment and the image version used all affect the experience. If interested, note which edition you are watching and who created its music. A release with a newly composed accompaniment is not automatically the only possible musical presentation of the work.
The BFI's account points to a history involving different forms of music and early synchronised sound programmes. “Silent” therefore does not mean that screenings were invariably soundless. Consider the accompaniment as part of this particular presentation. Does it support a movement, provide a contrasting emphasis or establish a mood especially strongly?
Look beyond the leading character
A wider shot may contain several actions at once. Someone gestures in the foreground while a door opens behind them. Following only the face may mean missing the preparation for an event. Let your attention move between spatial layers without assuming that every movement must be a hidden clue.
On a second viewing, examine a short passage without trying to understand everything immediately. Where does a movement begin and end? Does another character respond at once or after a delay? In comedy, that delay may be decisive. In drama, a similar pause might suggest uncertainty or resistance.
Do not dismiss the gestures too quickly
Larger movements can seem unfamiliar today. First ask how far away the performer is shown and what information the gesture communicates. A distant figure needs to attract attention differently from a face in close-up. Silent films do not all use the same performance style, however. Generalisations about exaggerated acting obscure differences between scenes and performers.
Intertitles may interrupt the flow or deliberately introduce an emphasis. Read them without expecting every word to come directly from a speaking voice. If the language is unfamiliar, choose an understandable translation. A well-presented short work can provide a better introduction than an unclear copy whose images and titles continually demand effort simply to decipher.