What’s being screened
Monsieur Verdoux (1947) is the penultimate film directed and starring Charles Chaplin, a dark satire based on the life of serial killer Henri Désiré Landru. Chaplin steps away from his iconic Tramp character to play a seductive and cynical bigamist who funds his bourgeois lifestyle by murdering wealthy widows. Written during his exile in Switzerland, the film combines biting humour, criticism of capitalism, and reflections on morality, featuring memorable lines like the one closing the film: «Killing one person makes you a murderer; killing millions, a hero.» Released in the post-war era, it sparked controversy for its irreverent tone and portrayal of social hypocrisy.
Context of the cycle
The La Comedia Americana III cycle revives classics of American comic cinema at the C.M. Rector Peset, a cultural space linked to the Universitat de València. While it’s not specified whether the screening will include an introduction or debate, these cycles typically feature original subtitled versions and formats that encourage reflection. Monsieur Verdoux stands out in Chaplin’s filmography for its break from slapstick and its approach to auteur cinema, influencing directors like Billy Wilder and the Coen brothers.
