Synopsis

A small desert town on the edge of western India’s famous salt plains is the unlikely home of the world’s largest population of Charlie Chaplin impersonators. The Charlie Circle of Adipur embraces businessmen, shopkeepers, a doctor who prescribes Chaplin movies for medicinal purposes, teachers, engineers, students and a three-year-old pre-schooler. They all share a passion for the silent film star of the early 1900s, with his twirling cane, wobbly walk and agitated eyebrows.

Award-winning Australian film-maker Kathryn Millard stumbled across the beguiling Charlie Circle during research for another film project. She was immediately invited to join their 116th birthday celebrations, which included a parade of Charlie look-alikes through town along with dancing girls, floats, strolling musicians and a camel. Would she do them the honour of bringing the grand centrepiece: the birthday cake?

And not just any cake, but one in the shape of a boot, as homage to the famous scene in The Gold Rush, where the starving Tramp boils and eats his own boot.

This was the improbable beginning of an intriguing journey, which takes us from the luxurious kitchens of a posh Mumbai hotel, into the bustle and exuberance of India, where Chaplin is at home on shrines alongside revered Hindu god Krishna. Along the way, we’re introduced to some of the world’s earliest Chaplin imitators including Australia’s Ern Vockler. After all, Charlie lookalikes were on the scene long before Elvis. We meet a host of Charlie devotees: Dr. Aswani, the founder of the Charlie Circle, Tollywood and Bollywood megastar Kamal Hassan, young aspiring actor, Viswajeet and the urbane Mumbai Charlie, Prevan. We ponder the spiritual resonance felt by so many people for the battler with his toothbrush moustache and baggy pants.

The Boot Cake explores how one community, reeling from the tragedy of the Gujarat earthquake that killed 200,000 people, finds hope and inspiration in the comic genius of Charlie Chaplin, one of the global icons of the past century. We see through their eyes, the pathos and humour of this unique physical comedy and the bitter-sweetness of his philosophies. And in moments of pure Chaplinesque absurdity we find ourselves sharing Kathryn’s concern that the chocolate truffle sponge with the cashew marzipan icing will melt in the 50 degree heat.

"Funny, poignant and thoughtprovoking, The Boot Cake layers film clips, impersonators, interviews with behind the scenes footage of Charlie’s Adipur birthday party. It is a story of resilience, unorthodox spirituality and ultimately, the power of cinema. "

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