What is ‘Chaplin | Spirit Of The Tramp’ about?

The film is an intimate portrait of Charlie from inside the family circle and a fresh take on Chaplin's oeuvre through the lens of his Gypsy heritage.

After my grandfather published his autobiography in 1964, he received a letter from an English Gypsy named Jack Hill. Jack Hill claims that Charlie wasn’t born in London, but in the Gypsy Queen’s caravan on the ‘Black Patch’ near Birmingham.

The story follows my father; author Michael J Chaplin, (Charlie’s eldest son by Oona O’Neil) as he uncovers Chaplin’s English Romany roots and comes to a deeper understanding of his relationship with his father.

Where did the idea come from?

Chaplin was very proud of his Gypsy heritage and spoke to his children about the lineage but never in detail. In his youth, Michael developed a real passion for Gypsy culture and music.

When my father came across Jack Hill’s letter, my sister Dolores and her ex-partner Stany Coppet came up with the idea of making a documentary film.

It's a family project, how was it to work with your dad and sister?

This production will always be a very special time for me. It was an incredible experience to walk this path with my father, to together discover a different side of him as ‘Charlie’s son’, and to uncover another dimension of Charlie.

It was a privilege to work with my sister as one of the Producers. It was magical to capture the essences of Geraldine, Victoria, Christopher and Jane who are as much a part of Charlie’s incredible legacy as his films.

Ultimately we could not have made the film without the support of the Chaplin Office and mk2 Films.

How do you feel about being in a family with so many great artists, do you feel any pressure? Or is it a motivation to explore new paths in your career?

When I was younger I was intimidated to go into directing so I started acting and loved it. Over the years I wrote screenplays and I made several short films – those experiences enabled me to build the confidence (and the filmography) I needed to direct my first feature-length film.

Nowadays I don’t feel any pressure to live up to Eugene O'Neill's or Charlie Chaplin's genius, I am just excited about writing and directing other projects.

How do you feel about being selected to San Sebastián Film Festival?

I am truly delighted (and relieved) the film has this opportunity because a top-tier festival World Premiere is so critical to the success of any independent / arthouse film.

I pitched the documentary at the Lau Haizetara Forum some years ago so it feels very poetic to return to San Sebastian now it’s finished.

There is so much artistry on show at SSIFF and so many incredible talents attend – I’m incredibly excited that we’re part of the lineup.

What do you expect the audience's reaction to be?

What moves me the most is Michael reclaiming his father on this pilgrimage – this is a story about family and legacy. For my father the film honors the Gypsy tradition he so adores – this is an homage to and a celebration of the Gypsy / Roma / Traveller tradition which offers audiences new insight into Chaplin as a man and as an artist.

What is the path of the film after the festival? Are you planning to release the film in Theatres?

The Spanish distributor Bteam is handling the theatrical release in Spain. Fabien Westhoff of Film Constellation is handling worldwide sales, and we’re planning theatrical releases in other territories as well.

Are you working on any project at present?

My next project is the feature film drama ‘Photocall’ set in the Paris fashion world about a reclusive painter in her forties who reprises her former role as a supermodel.