Chaplin is Coming!! Silent Comedy King Returns to Beijing's Big Screen
Charlie Chaplin has long been a huge star in China, and his films still frequently pop up on late night television, even as some of them approach a 100 years of age. The silent star actually visited China in the 1930s and met the famous Peking Opera performer Mei Lanfang. Now Beijing’s lone arthouse cinema, BC MOMA, is putting the silent comic back on the big screen where he belongs, with a Chaplin Festival that includes outdoor screenings, a live musical accompaniment for one screening, and a Chaplin-themed “scratch” workshop.
The festival kicks off this Friday, August 13, with a cocktail party in Kubrick café (in the MOMA complex, right opposite the cinema) from 7.30-8.45pm, before an outdoor screening in the MOMA plaza of Chaplin’s 1931 classic City Lights.
The screening will feature a live accompaniment by local combo the Xia Jia Trio, comprising Xia Jia (piano), Zhang Ke (bass) and Xiao Dou (drums). According to BC MOMA programmer Wu Jing, the trio draws on an eclectic mix of influences including jazz, electro, funk, and drum and bass. Entry is RMB 150 (includes the cocktail party), or RMB 120 for BC MOMA members.
The screenings continue until Saturday, August 21, and include Chaplin’s take on life in the age of mechanization, Modern Times – described by Wu Jing as depicting a world “similar to today’s China” – and Chaplin's classic satire of Fascism, The Great Dictator. Also on the program is Chaplin’s lesser-known penultimate feature from 1957, A King in New York. Each film will be screened once outdoors and once inside the cinema – see the end of this post for the full schedule.
From 2pm on Sunday, August 22, Vicky Mohieddeen of Beijing’s Electric Shadows short film group will be conducting a Chaplin-themed “scratch” workshop. Like Electric Shadows' earlier workshop in May, the event will give all participants a chance to make their own film on the spot, by scratching, tearing, and painting strips of celluloid. In an age of digital media, this is a great chance for participants to get their hands dirty with real, old fashioned pieces of film.
Mohieddeen says of the workshop, “We'll watch some Chaplin before we start to get in the mood and have early jazz playing as we work to get people inspired. We'll be working from a 16mm print of Chaplin's 1915 short The Champion and we also have some transparent film if people want to draw/scratch or otherwise create their own Chaplin inspired animations. When we're done, a DJ will be providing music alongside the final projection.”
No previous film experience is required and the workshop will be conducted in both English and Chinese. The workshop costs RMB 120, and places are limited, so participants should call BC MOMA to register (8438 8258).
The scratch workshop screenings and rooftop festival closing party start right after the workshop on August 22, at 8pm – everyone is welcome at this free event.
CHAPLIN FESTIVAL SCREENING SCHEDULE
7.30pm, Friday August 13 (Outdoor)
Opening night cocktail party + screening of City Lights (with live music)
8.30pm, Saturday, August 14 (Outdoor)
The Gold Rush
8.30pm, Sunday, August 15 (Outdoor)
The Great Dictator
8.30pm Monday, August 16 (Outdoor)
A King in New York
8.30pm, Tuesday, August 17 (Outdoor)
Modern Times
7.30pm, Wednesday, August 18 (Indoor)
City Lights
7.30pm, Thursday August 19 (Indoor)
The Gold Rush
7.30pm, Friday, August 20, (Indoor)
The Great Dictator
2pm, Saturday, August 21 (Indoor)
A King in New York
4pm, Saturday, August 21 (Indoor)
Modern Times
2pm, Sunday August 22
Chaplin Scratch Workshop
8pm, Sunday August 22
Closing night party + Scratch Workshop screening
All screening in or outside BC MOMA. Tickets to all sessions except for opening and closing nights: RMB 40/30 (students)/25 (members).
Chaplin Festival Opening Night: Friday, August 13. 7.30-8.45pm, cocktail party in Kubrick café (next to BC MOMA). 9pm, outdoor screening of City Lights featuring live accompaniment by the Xia Jia Trio. RMB 150/120 (BC MOMA members).
Chaplin “Scratch” Workshop: Sunday, August 22. 2pm. Workshop conducted at BC MOMA in Chinese and English, no previous filmmaking experience required. Pre-registration required (8438 8258). RMB 120.
Closing Night Party: Sunday, August 22. 8pm. Scratch workshop screening, DJ and drinks on the BC MOMA rooftop. Free.