Chocolat
© James C. Hess
It is also a film certain to drive you crazy with its cuteness, its oddity, its originality.
The story: "Chocolat" is about a war fought between the forces of paganism and Christianity. The heroine--pagan--has chocolate on her side, so she wins. But her win is not immediate, as a lot of the locals give up chocolate for Lent.
"Chocolat" is a fairy tale. It admits so much: Once upon a time. The location is a French village where peace and tranquility and no stress hold rule.
In other words: A really boring place.
Then something happens: Vianne (Juliette Binoche), who arrives to town, and opens up a chocolate shop.
Which means, of course, nothing is ever the same again.
Is this a bad thing? It depends, I suppose, on your perspective of things, based in religious notion--Christianity or paganism.
Despite the obvious battle over which is better within the context of the film--Christianity or paganism--"Chocolat" is charming. It is also--dare I say this?--whimsical, calling forth films that starred Sophia Loren and Catherine Deneuve (whom Binoche echos ever so well with her beauty and youth).
The town where this particular story takes place is controlled--ruled, really--by Comte de Reynaud (Alfred Molina). His wife, the story goes, has gone on a vacation to Venice. Which means since Reynaud does not control her he controls the villagers instead. Going so far, for example, to write the sermons the good Father Pere Henri (Hugh O'Conor) gives in the church, from the pulpit.
Despite its peaceful and serene appearance the village has problems, which are confided to Vianne: Josephine (Lena Olin) is consoled by Vianne after her husband, Serge (Peter Stormare) beats her.
"Chocolat" is a certain original. But it drops this originality for a cliche: Husbands are wife-beaters. But this cliche is easily forgiven as it goes to drive the plot centered on Vianne, who is the unmarried mother of Anouk (Victoire Thivisol).
Understand, though: Despite her lack of husband (and, therefore, apparent marital brute) she has a solid interest in the other sex: Roux (Johnny Depp), who lives on a houseboat anchored nearby.
The focus of the plot is Vianne, but the true focus of the plot is her chocolates, which come across as magical. One goodie has the ability of Viagra, while another seems to inspire and cause love. Everyone in the village is attracted to the confections, including Vianne's landlady, Armande (Dame Judith Dench), who ends a long running feud with her daughter (Carrie-Anne Moss).
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