|
Chocolate does not just please the palate and warm the body. This is what Chocolat
proposes. The fairy tale like story shows two wanderers, the mother Vianne (Juliette Binoche) and her young daughter Anouk (Victoire Thivisol), finding themselves in the small
quiet town of Lasquenet. Deciding to stop there, Vianne leases a place from Armande Voizin (Judi Dench). She opens a shop selling all sorts of chocolates. This upsets the
staid and sanctimonious mayor Comte de Reynaud (Alfred Molina). It is the start of Lent and the young and newly assigned parish priest Pere Henri (Hugh O'Conor) has just
reminded the townfolk about keeping this time for abstinence, reflection, sincere penitence, for Christ. The mayor warns his people to stay away but something about
Vianne and her chocolates make them come. The arrival of a band of gypsies led by Roux (Johnny Depp) complicates the situation for the mayor and Father Henri: how to keep
their townfolk-parishioners "morally and spiritually correct".
Lasse Hallstrom handles the movie with a light touch, giving it an air of fantasy meant to
entertain. It is not very clear where Vianne and her daughter come from and what is it that makes the chocolatier have that magic touch on her customers and neighbors.
Juliette Binoche, Alfred Molina, Judi Dench, Lena Olin and Peter Stormare do justice to their roles. The music is very good. The production design showcases a picture-pretty
French river town, especially seen by the water and from the air.
The serious side of Chocolat deals with the effect of Vianne and her chocolates on the
people, compared to what they really are: steeped in the centuries-old religion that has been their life for generations. The story tries to differentiate between sticking to
the externals of belief, resulting in bigotry and prejudice, and following the spirit that animates and energizes. The movie also touches on love, the freedom of choice and
women empowerment.
As Pere Henri says, the crux of the Christian message is "not what we deny ourselves but what
we give. It is not whom we exclude but whom we embrace."
(Date reviewed: March 23, 2001)
|
