FILMS… Chocolat (2000)

#2000s #AllPosts

 

Are you craving a sweet film?

 

This film, Chocolat is nicely crafted and confectioned for your satisfaction.

 

Binoche with Depp

Binoche with Olin

Chocolat | Official Trailer (HD) – Johnny Depp, Judi Dench | MIRAMAX, and Photos © Miramax

 

The titular film character, Forrest Gump (1994) said;

Life is like a box of chocolates you never know what you going to get.

This is a feeling of apprehension we may have when about to watch a new movie. This a feeling that I had admittedly with this film, however in retrospect, I almost missed out on a good thing.

This film, Chocolat (2000) was one my Darlin Husband had recommended and I had avoided it mainly for two reasons. Firstly, before this as not the biggest (or indeed smallest) Johnny Depp film lover, apart from Ed Wood (1994) – but that’s another story – as I can only see him as 2003’s Pirates of the Caribbean‘s Captain Jack Sparrow.

I’d also avoided it as was under the misunderstanding after reading the title that this was a French-speaking film. This along with the mention of the leading lady, Juliette Binoche, every time it has been suggested, I’ve not been in the mood for subtitles. So in watching it, I was happy to see the lack of subtitles and the cast including British National Treasures Judi Dench and Alfred Molina. And I assume Swedish National Treasures, Lena Olin and Peter Stormare. And Canadian, Carrie-Anne Moss.

The film has a lovely chocolate box feel to the start as we zoom in on Lansquenet-sous-Tannes, a wee made-up, picturesque French village and very twee it is too. It has a wee church and lovely old buildings which set the scene for the film set in 1959 just before the beginning of Lent.

The film storyline is told by a grown-up Anouk, daughter of Vianne Rocher (Binoche) telling of the village and its inhabitants’ conservative, God-worshipping mores. We meet the main characters as they attend church greeted by the Comte de Reynaud (Molina). He is a deeply religious man who gives up sweet things for Lent, and whose wife has not yet returned from a prolonged Italian trip.

As we meet these characters we see a few of those National treasures mentioned earlier and a few more familiar members of the acting profession too. As Pere Henri (Hugh O’Connor) gives his weekly sermon, supported by the Comte (Count) – who often “helps” him with his sermons – a strong North wind blows the church doors open. And no, Jack Nicholson as the devil doesn’t enter on a rant about those Witches of Eastwick (1987).

Outside, two characters, a tall one and a wee one in matching red hooded cloaks are seen approaching the village. These characters are revealed to be a six-year-old, Anouk (Victoire Thivisol, but voiced by Sally Taylor-Isherwood) and her mother Vianne Rocher (Binoche).

Vianne hopes to rent one of the shops in the village which she does through the often grumpy, Armande (Dench). Armande does not believe in God and therefore does not attend church services. Vianne is welcomed to the church by Comte, however, she politely declines as she does not believe in God.

Daughter Anouk has an imaginary friend, a kangaroo named Pantoufle. Coupled with Vianne being a single mum, the Comte is disturbed by these new presences in the town, who dismiss Vianne as a “radical”. The Rochers’ shop is lovingly painted and decorated with trinkets from all over the world. A yummy looking montage reveals the mystery of the shop’s purpose as a chocolaterie is revealed.. with its opening timing at the beginning of Lent adding to the Comte’s concerns.

Slowly we meet the churchgoers who come into the shop, all warming to the owner by sharing their thoughts on a spinning plate. After which Vianne reveals chocolate – often with a hint of mystic powers through using chilli –  that reveals their inner desires and the potential for meeting these needs.

However as it is Lent, there are only a few customers. Mme Marceau (Elisabeth Commelin) shares that her husband is no longer amorous, but after she eats one chocolate and buys him a bag only to find him sleeping she is disheartened. That is until he finds the bag she threw away…

Landlady Armande shares that her relationship with her daughter is rocky and she hasn’t been able to spend time with her young grandson, Luc. It is revealed her daughter Caroline Clairmont (Moss) is a widow who works as a secretary for the Comte, and she overprotects her son, Luc (Aurélien Parent-Koenig). Luc has a flair for sketching often macabre pictures of people. Caroline scolded him for entering the chocolate shop before, and for nearly eating the chocolate cake offered by the Rochers.

Her mother however often drinks hot chocolate there and is openly reprimanded by her daughter. Caroline is concerned about this as she feels her mother can’t look after herself as she has diabetes. However, unbeknownst to her, Luc spends time with his grandmother after Vianne asks him to sketch her a portrait.. with the boy eating a small piece from a cake portion.

Other members of the village we meet include Guillaume Blerot (John Wood) and his pet dog, Blerot is harbouring romantic feelings for the long-time widow Madame Audel (Leslie Caron). He is shy about revealing his feelings, but their relationship is furthered after his dog eats chocolate.

An opportunist thief, Josephine (Olin) after secretly stealing her favourite chocolates, later meets and trusts Vianne. This comes after Vianne brings her some chocolates to initiate a friendship with her. Vianne is concerned about her as it’s revealed she is being beaten by her husband Serge (Stormare). However, after eating the chocolate she has the strength to leave him… as she moves into the chocolaterie as Vianne’s apprentice.

After some time, some water rats or gypsies – or as Anouk sees them, pirates – encamp at the river close to the town. This concerns the Comte who stirs up his contempt in the village meeting. The gypsies are led by Captain Jack Sparrow Roux (Depp) who forms a friendship with Vianne and her daughter.

The presence of these people riles the Comte who shares his concerns with the recently employed priest, Pere (Father) Henri and helps him adapt his sermon to promote his message against these newcomers to the villagers…

This film had a lovely feeling from the start with its haunting musical score, the tranquillity of the idyllic setting and the magical script. These attributes, along with the narration – starting with that almost fairytale use of the phrase, “Once upon a time” added to the ethereal and beauty of this unique tale.

The setting filmed in a hybrid of an English town’s river combined with a French village added to the charming ambience. The casting was just as refreshing with Binoche really the only actress you could see in this role. With a supporting cast that was almost tailor-made for this film all believable with special mention to Dench, Stormare and Olin.

The youngest members of the cast, Victoire Thivisol and Aurélien Parent-Koenig complimented these big-name stars perfectly. It was only marred by Depp who although his presence was welcoming Irish accent was more Brad Pitt / Tom Cruise than Liam Neeson.

It was interesting to have the story as told by the lead character’s daughter, as a grown-up adding a personal touch to the story. The story like a chocolate box had both light and darker moments. And the inclusion of the narration and the characters and the villagers and the Rochers’ origins stories complemented rather than detracted from the movie.

The character arcs of the characters were lovingly written for some, and more disturbingly for others. Yet the characters in these respective roles made you feel empathy for them – even with the latter – and the situations they found themselves in.

The story arc for Olin’s character Josephine was the most striking as she initially was a mousy, timid, loner with a penchant for thieving. Olin makes this vulnerable character in an overwhelming situation transform into a more confident, open and trusting person with the villagers.

There are many love stories initiated in the movie, and realistically and touchingly told despite the fairytale storyline. The most significant is the maternal love that Vianne feels for her daughter and that Armande has for her grandson. There is romantic love too.

And there is chocolate. The eating of this chocolate often reveals the characters’ motivations and often leads to the eater’s desired outcomes. These wishes are not often voiced but are sometimes more apparent as the characters’ stories progressed. There is of course chocolate in lots of lovely mouth-watering shots so do try to avoid this film if you are on a diet or even Lent.

Finally, accept those lines as Johnny Depp makes his appearance as Roux and not as Anouk calls him a “kind of pirate” and “the Captain”. I stress his role has nothing to do with Captain Jack Sparrow. But instead, enjoy the sweet performances from Depp and the cast. This feel-good film really is a box of delights, which like the subject of the film title makes you feel all gooey inside.

 

Weeper Rating:  😦😦 😦😦 😦 😦😦 😦 /10

Handsqueeze Rating: 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂🙂 🙂 🙂10

Hulk Rating: ‎    / 10

 

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Colours Blogathon 2017, No 48 and Hollywood Genes’ Always A Bridesmaid Film Blogathon  2019 No 42

This review was entered for the Colours Blogathon run by Thoughts All Sorts and the Hollywood Genes’ Always A Bridesmaid Film Blogathon. Other reviews with this cast include,

• Judi Dench in A Room With A View  and Spectre. 
• Lena Olin in Welcome to Sweden.
• Johnny Depp in Ed Wood and this film in a tribute to to Martin Landau.
• Peter Stormare features in John Wick Chapter 2 and Fargo.

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