The Real Charlie Chaplin

Charlie Chaplin is an icon of cinema – but who was the man really? In an innovative montage of extensively researched archive material and newly discovered sound recordings, this documentary essay traces the British comedian's meteoric rise from the slums of Victorian London to the Hollywood Olympus. But the darker sides, including those relating to his ex-wives and his eccentric working methods, are also explored. The Real Charlie Chaplin is not only the story of a controversial and visionary artist, it is also the story of the transformation of cinema and society in times of economic boom or political persecution. (Zurich Film Festival)