Chocolat (2000)

Wonderful characters!

I love this film. Juliette Binoche is a joy as the town's newest resident, and her open ways are very foreign to some of her neighbors. Judi Dench is, as always, terrific. From a very personal perpective, Johnny Depp shows up too late in the film, but, as always, lives his role. This may not be a great film and some may feel it is hitting them too hard pointing out people's prejudices. But people do have them and it never hursts to remind us to look beyond the surface. Tjhe film does not treat dogmatic religion too kindly--but I don't have a problem with that. August 25, 2008

Magic and chocolate

Maybe there isn't much difference - but Vianne's is more magical than most. She spends her life as a wanderer, bringing with her chocolate recipes that descend from the Mayas, but with preparation to tempt the most refined Europeans. The story starts when she and her daughter wander into a small city in France that dates back to the middle ages. It's a walled city, filled with walled people, the kind affronted by opening a chocolate shop during Lent and nastily eager to note the mother's never-married state.

But, with a lot of determination and a little magic, Vianne wins them over, one palate at a time. As she helps bring people together, heal rifts, and create second chances for the townspeople, one wonders why the charm doesn't work on her own life. Then, Roux (played by Johnny Depp) appears, even more of a wanderer than Vianne. Instant affinity arises between these two roamers, but instant enmity comes from the deep-rooted locals - how dare they not live lives as staid as the villagers' own?

Based on chocolate, you just know that this has to end up as a feel-good movie; I'm not spoiling any surprises there. As in The Mistress of Spices, primal forces of the kitchen bring peace and happiness in the end.

-- wiredweird July 31, 2008

A film you will never forget!

Delightfull, seductive, humorous, and bold would be the four main words to describe this film. A wonderfull story with great performences and wonderfull musical score by Rachael Potter. Juliette Binoche was terrefic, she was very adorable and so was Victoire Thivisol who played her daughter. Carrie-Anne Moss and Alfred Molina delivers a good performence as well and Judi Dench, she is brilliant as always. The film throws light on the simple pleasures of life, the life in towns in France. A film worth watching! June 7, 2008

Hot Chocolate for the Soul

Lasse Hallstrom's "Chocolat" is a richly delicious movie. Set in post-WWII France, Juliette Binoche is luminous as Vianne,a gipsy who works magic with her chocolate. Alfred Molina stars as the melancholy, repressed Comte who initiates a crusade against her in the name of morality. With Rachel Portman's sensuous soundtrack,"Chocolat" is a delicious treat.

In "Chocolat",Vianne befriends the abused Josephine (Lena Olin) as well as the suffering Countess (Judi Dench),who's estranged from her uptight daughter Caroline (Carrie-Ann Moss). Vianne defiantly opens her chocolaterie during Lent. One can argue the premise is offensive-what if Vianne opened a hamburger shop in India,or sold pork in a Muslim country? Isn't Vianne being insensitive,or just adolescent? Vianne's chocolate shop ends up being a refuge and place of healing. Her chocolate is an aphrodisiac, spicing up a passionless marriage and jumpstarting a romance between an old widow (Leslie Caron) and a man who's pined for her since WWI. Johnny Depp leads the river pirates to the small French town. His name is Roux--so he's named for the butter-flour mixture that thickens soups. The plot thickens. In the meantime, the Comte is bullying the young priest. Doesn't he have anything better to do? To his credit, the Comte tries to reform Josephine's abusive husband Serge. As for the Countess, she is secretly suffering from diabetes and desires Death by Chocolate.

Vianne decides to have a Chocolate Festival to counter Easter. After kneeling before a crucifix, the Comte finds Vianne's chocolate goddess on an altar surrounded by Mayan and Aztec images. He succumbs to the temptation of the chocolate, and everyone gets a Happily Ever After.

"Chocolat" works as a light-hearted fable. It's sensuous and magical. It's delightful,fast-paced,and the ensemble cast is first-rate. One may disagree with the unrepentant,ungrateful Vianne,who doesn't thank the Divine for her healing gifts,or the fact that she doesn't know who her child's father is. Still, Vianne is compassionate and charitable. Even the villainous Comte has nuance,a man depressed from his wife's death. "Chocolat" is delicious. Succumb to the tasty temptation! May 31, 2008

Who can resist chocolate?

In this movie chocolate is used as a symbol for sexual desires at a time when people rarely expressed their inner feelings openly.

Ironically Vianne (Julliette Binoche) opens her shop in a conservative French village at a time when everyone was celebrating Lent, a fasting time for Catholics. She challenged their desires and discipline while they challenged her ambition and patience.

I did not recognize Johnny Depp in this movie. After seeing him in this role I wish I could see him playing "The Count of Monte Cristo" or "A Tale of Two Cities"

Overall this is one of the movies I would like to watch over and over again!
May 5, 2008

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