| Directed by: Lasse Hallström
Starring: Juliette Binoche, Lena Olin, Johnny Depp, Judi Dench, Released: March 2001 Rated PG 13 Reviewed by Janet Bishop Chocolat. Pronounce that "shah-kah-la". The film "Chocolate" was nominated for five academy awards but did not win any. The film has reawakened interest in the novel, which has returned to the best seller list.The Literary Review gushes, "Is this the best novel ever written?" "Chocolat" is based on a novel by the same name, written by Joanne Harris. The film is set in the late 1950's, though the book suggested a contemporary time period. Perhaps the film makers choose an earlier time period,because the story of an unwed mother raising her child, would elicit more reaction in that more conservative era. Alluring and vivacious , Juliette Binoche plays the leading lady Vianne. An unwed mother, she and her small daughter move to the little town of Lansqunet. Vianne senses her child is tired ofthe nomadic lifestyle they have led up to this time. Also, Vianne is a chocolate maker, and the Lansqunet pastry shop is, fortuitously, available to rent.Vianne has a kind of 'sixth sense'; she knows what kind of chocolate people like. Vianne is of Mexican ancestry, and the filmmakers make much of Central America's ancient Mayan culture; especially its 'magical'ways with chocolate, Balance seems missing here,as no mention is made of the ancient Mayan practice of performing human sacrifice. The 'bad guy' of the film (though not so bad) is the town's mayor Comte de Renaud, well played by Alfred Molina. Through most the movie the audience is led to believe that the Count's wife is away on a long trip. Later we learn that the Comte's wife has left him. In one movie scene where the Comte confronts Peter Stomares character about setting a fire, I was relieved to see the Comte's character was not a total sterotype. As Mayor the Comte seems to rule over Lansqunet like a monarch, even preparing sermons for the town's 'bumbling' but amiable priest(think Father Mulcahy from those Mash reruns.). This is a departure from the book,however,where the priest was the controlling dictator of Lansqunet. Author Harris suspects,that the films producers made this change because they did not wish to risk offending Christians in the Unites States. Vianne rents out the candy shop, just as Lent begins, incurring the Comte's wrath. some wonder why as an enlighted and compassionate person, Vianne chose to open her goodie shop, just as Lent begins. This could be viewed as a deliberate provocation. We can see that the Comte is actually afraid of Vianne,her love of 'freedom' reminds him of his departed wife, who deserted him. He seems to do all he can to turn the village people against Vianne, though many are charmed with her vibrancy and her chocolate making talents. Indeed the formerly straight-laced townspeople seem transformed through her influences.The Mayor goes so far as to write a sermon condemning the 'sins' of temptation,especially the temptation of chocolate. To retaliate against the Mayor,for his meanness, Vianne plans a special pagan celebration for Easter Sunday. she concocts chocolate delicacies in the shapes of pagan figures, for the occasion. Wouldn't you know that just one day before Lent ends, the Mayor, intending to destroy all Vianne's chocolate icons, sneaks into her shop, and ends up eating all the chocolate in sight.He falls asleep in the shop window after his repast. One movie goer commented that in this film, chocolate represents grace, while the Mayor is seen as a symbol for religious legalism. Hunky Johnny Depp as Roux, enters the picture about halfway through providing opportunities for romance and drama. He and his band of Irish river rats find little acceptance in Lansqunet; the Mayor discourages the town's people from fraternizing with them. Of course Vianne and Depp are soul mates,and an implied intimate relationship follows, though 'Chocolat' contains no graphic love scenes. Depp's character is an enigma, even to Vianne, who can't guess his favorite form of chocolate until near the end of the movie.Many of the visual treatments in this movie are beautiful,in a 'Thomas Kinkade' kind of way. 21/2 'stars'.
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