Chocolat

Chocolat

  • Submitted By: serendipity
  • Date Submitted: 10/01/2008 10:49 AM
  • Category: English
  • Words: 1432
  • Page: 6
  • Views: 2173

I'm always dubious when I see a story taking sides. Unfortunately, in Lance Hallstrom's new movie Chocolat, two sides are established fairly quickly. On one hand, the church is shown to be restrictive and lifeless, there is no color present, and everyone appears to be stiff and uncomfortable. However, when we see Juliet Binnoche's character, Vianne, and her daughter for the first time, they are donned in deep red cloaks and accompanied by a strong north wind, suggesting their passionate spirits, as well as their connection to nature. The wind following and/or guiding them even blows open the doors of the church, suggesting that a change is in the air.

As the story progresses, we notice that Vianne is a saint-like figure, who is inclusive of everyone in the village and has a knack for knowing someone's favorite type of chocolate. Chocolate here works as a remedy, a magic elixir, for one's physical and/or spiritual aches and pains. The mayor of the village who edits the priest's sermons represents the church and is threatened by Vianne's presence, mainly because she has come during Lent and is offering temptation to people who are suppose to be fasting from such pleasures.
The film's first act reveals Vianne establishing herself in the village and offering treats to anyone who by chance stumbles into her shop. The mayor is frustrated by her disregard for Lent, and eventually spreads rumors about her suggesting she's of ill repute. In the second act, Vianne accepts a woman who's an outsider and is seen as being slightly demented by the villagers. Vianne lets Josephine stay in her home and teaches her the art of making chocolate. In the third act, Vianne offers a similar act of kindness towards some gypsies who come to the town. The mayor becomes increasingly frustrated, breaks into the shop and attempts to destroy the chocolate Vianne is making for a festival. His repression gets the best of him, and he ends up gorging himself on all the delectable...

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