by Michele Diomà
For those who love the history of cinema, there are great auteurs to study and often rediscover—and then there is Charlie Chaplin.
Once, Federico Fellini said that Chaplin, in a way, is Cinema itself. I believe that if we want to understand the great tragedies humanity is experiencing today, we should revisit Charlie Chaplin’s films, because I think they contain the most precious message of peace that any artist has ever given to the world.
It is with immense honor that today we welcome Michael J. Chaplin to the WILD FILMMAKER Community.
(PH By Ashim Bhalla)
Who is Michael J. Chaplin?
I am a British author, born in Santa Monica, California, and raised in Switzerland following my father’s expulsion from America during the McCarthy era. I am the eldest son of Charlie Chaplin and Oona O’Neill. After a youth spent trying to escape my father’s overwhelming fame, which followed me everywhere, I eventually found a stable life farming land in Southwest France and raising a large family. My literary debut is the historical fiction novel, A Fallen God. More recently, I have dedicated myself to tracing my father’s English Romany roots, an exploration that is the subject of the theatrical documentary Chaplin | Spirit of The Tramp, in which I am the central participant and narrator. I currently live in Switzerland, but continue to write and travel frequently in Southern Europe.
The main mission of WILD FILMMAKER is to introduce younger generations to the history of cinema. Is there a project you would like to create to help contribute to this goal?
My current project, the documentary Chaplin | Spirit of The Tramp, is designed to do exactly that. The goal of the film is to revisit Charlie Chaplin’s work through the lens of his Romany heritage, which is a new perspective compared to other films about his life. The film is particularly important in cultivating a love of the big screen experience to build future cinema-going audiences as it was made in that spirit. I am the thread that runs through the film, and it features my granddaughter, Uma Bhalla Chaplin, who interviews me and also voices an animated version of my father in his own words. This passing of the torch within the family, and the inclusion of a younger generation, introduces the Maestro to a new audience.
What do you like and what don’t you like about the world?
I am a family man, I spend most of my time at home reading and writing. I enjoy a simple life with my wife, children and grandchildren. There is much to dislike about the world but if I focus on basic goodness, people, my family, nature and simple pleasures like reading and writing then there is so much to like.
Every artist has someone or something that inspired them. Where do you draw your creative drive from?
For my novel, A Fallen God, the inspiration was drawn from the land itself. While farming in Southwest France, a strong, melancholic feeling settled over me. Discovering the history of the 13th-century conflict between the Church of Rome and the rebellious Cathar movement—and the subsequent genocide—unlocked the world and theme for my historical romance novel.
For my work in cinema, the drive is deeply personal and began when my father told me about his Romany roots at the age of ten, a confession that impressed me greatly. The documentary, Chaplin | Spirit of The Tramp, represents decades of my dedication to tracing and honoring this English Romany tradition. Ultimately, this project is a pilgrimage of love, where I reclaim my father and his legacy.
What impression do you have of WILD FILMMAKER?
I have a positive impression of WILD FILMMAKER. I appreciate it’s focus on preserving the history of cinema and promoting arthouse cinema at major film festivals. The mission to promote creativity and democratize cinema, while introducing younger generations to the history of the art form, is commendable.
