Chocolat
Director: Lasse Hallström.
Starring: Juliette Binoche, Judi Dench & Johnny Depp.
Do you love chocolate? Do you every now and then need a heart-warming film where you don’t have to think much? Did you like What’s Eating Gilbert Grape and last year’s Oscar winner The Cider House Rules? If the answer is yes, you are most likely to also enjoy director Lasse Hallström’s new international venture Chocolat.
Set in a conservative small town in France some decades ago, the story revolves around a single mother (Binoche) and her struggles to establish a chocolaterie and be accepted by the villagers for who she is. Feels like you’ve seen it all before? Well, you probably have (Dutch film Antonia’s Line has a similar premise, but takes it much further). What makes Chocolat more interesting than the average Hollywood fluff are the exquisite chocolate making scenes and the great performances from Juliette Binoche and Judi Dench. Even though we know what is going to happen, we want to see it all on screen (Johnny Depp is to die for in his pony tail and struggling Irish accent).
Characters in interaction are Hallström’s strength but Chocolat also has occasional visual experiments that work (like the black and white shot of the village where only the roofs stand out red). Further devices of a similar kind could have improved the overall look of the film but I suppose Chocolat is more about smelling, tasting and feeling. So when you go, don’t forget to bring a bag of your favourite chocolates!
Sol
