Exhibition on Charlie Chaplin in Cannes

After Goscinny, Louis de Funès, and Romy Schneider, Cannes continues the celebration of icons of the seventh art.

Next summer, from July 9 to August 25, 2024, at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, an extraordinary exhibition dedicated to Charlie Chaplin will be presented.

Developed in collaboration with Chaplin’s World museum and the Bureau Chaplin, the exhibition retraces the life of the director: the visit includes various educational spaces dedicated to the film “The Kid” and highlights numerous autobiographical details of Chaplin, blending humor and emotions.

Released in February 1921, the famous silent comedy-drama “The Kid” tells the story of an abandoned child taken in by a poor glassblower, Charlot, and their adventures.

Over 100 years since its release, this autobiographical gem continues to transcend generations, skillfully combining comedy and emotion.

The exhibition begins by delving behind the scenes of the film, set in 19th-century London, allowing the audience to discover letters from Hannah, Chaplin’s mother, who was then hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital, and his brother Sydney. These documents bring the audience closer to the story of the film, to Chaplin’s own childhood, exploring the life of young Charlie being moved from one orphanage to another.

Visitors will also explore an area dedicated to the incredible story of Jackie Coogan, the interpreter of Kid, and understand the play of mirrors between the characters of Charlot and Kid, as well as between the lives of Chaplin and Coogan.

This cinematic journey will be punctuated by magic lantern shows and a unique film experience in the “Nickelodéon” space. The exhibition gathers testimonies from Michael Chaplin, son of Charlie Chaplin, to provide a deeper insight into his father’s persona.

Meanwhile, in anticipation of summer, the black-and-white effigy of Charlot has been displayed at the entrance of the city center, at 10 Boulevard Vallombrosa, accompanied by a mischievous-looking child, reaching a height of 25 meters.

This mural, created by the municipality and designed by A. Fresco, is a suggestive representation of the film “The Kid.”