By Gabrielle Borja

On September 30, I went to watch Charles Chaplin’s classic film “The Circus” at the Brattle Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The audience was mostly older people, and I noticed there weren’t many people around my age. This made the event interesting, as the older viewers shared their memories of Chaplin’s films and how much they meant to them. However I was at least able to convince one of my friends to join me which made it less intimidating. “The Circus” is a silent film, which made the experience special. The audience laughed at the funny parts, often on cue with the movie, making it even more enjoyable. Chaplin’s brilliant physical comedy and visual gags connect with everyone, even without spoken words. The panel of film experts talked about the film’s importance in Chaplin’s career and in the silent film era. We discussed themes like isolation and resilience, which reflect Chaplin’s own struggles while making the film. The story follows the Tramp as he accidentally joins a struggling circus, showing the ups and downs of life. They also mentioned how the film captures the changes happening in the late 1920s, as movies were shifting from silent films to talkies. I had sat next to someone that appeared to be in their 60’s and he was explaining the backstory to Chaplin’s films and it was interesting to listen to while waiting for the film to start. Overall, the event at the Brattle Theater helped me appreciate Chaplin’s talent and the timelessness of his work, leaving me with deeper insights into human experiences. My favorite part of the film was the scene where the Tramp tries to impress a beautiful tightrope walker. His clumsy attempts to show off lead to hilarious moments, and it perfectly captures his character’s charm and determination despite constant failures. I am grateful for this opportunity to watch a film like that in a theater versus in the usual lecture hall at UMass Boston. It definitely set the environment and made it way cooler to watch than in class.