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Product Description: A wanderer and her daughter open a chocolate shop in a straight-laced French Catholic village during Lent.
Genre: Feature Film-Drama
Rating: PG13
Release Date: 21-MAY-2002
Media Type: DVD Amazon.com: With movies like Chocolat, it's always best to relax your intellectual faculties and absorb the abundant sensual pleasures, be it the heart-stopping smile of chocolatier Juliette Binoche as she greets a new customer, an intoxicating cup of spiced hot cocoa, or the soothing guitar of an Irish gypsy played by Johnny Depp. Adapted by Robert Nelson Jacobs from Joanne Harris's popular novel and lovingly directed by Lasse Hallström, the film covers familiar territory and deals in broad metaphors that even a child could comprehend, so it's no surprise that some critics panned it with killjoy fervor. Their objections miss the point. Familiarity can be comforting and so can easy metaphors when placed in a fable that's as warmly inviting as this one. Driven by fate, Vianne (Binoche) drifts into a tranquil French village with her daughter Anouk (Victoire Thivisol, from Ponette) in the winter of 1959. Her newly opened chocolatier is a source of attraction and fear, since Vianne's ability to revive the villagers' passions threatens to disrupt their repressive traditions. The pious mayor (Alfred Molina) sees Vianne as the enemy, and his war against her peaks with the arrival of "river rats" led by Roux (Depp), whose attraction to Vianne is immediate and reciprocal. Splendid subplots involve a battered wife (Lena Olin), a village elder (Judi Dench), and her estranged daughter (Carrie-Anne Moss), and while the film's broader strokes may be regrettable (if not for Molina's rich performance, the mayor would be a caricature), its subtleties are often sublime. Chocolat reminds you of life's simple pleasures and invites you to enjoy them. --Jeff Shannon Customer Reviews: Rating: 
Date: 2008-06-07
A delightfull drama
Yet one of those lighthearted dramas. Very well chosen cast and Juliette Binoche is simply adorable in the role played by her, she does her part really well. Johny Depp as usual gives a good performence and Alfred Molina does a terrefic job as the mayor, I have always admired his work and this one is one of his best. Judi Dench, as we all know her as an experienced charismatic actress does her part very nicely. The chocolate recepies almost got my mouth watered, be carefull as it might increase your temptation for chocolates. Each and every individual in the film delivers a sattisfying performence and Juliette Binoche is unforgettable. "Chocolat" the film throws light on the simple, sweet pleasures of life. In this film you get a glimpse of villages in France, the locations and scenarios are beautifull. The story is lovely and the conclusion is sattisfying. Ever since I first saw the film, I had always wanted the film on Dvd, Thank you Amazon.com once again. Rating: 
Date: 2008-05-31
Hot Chocolate for the Soul
Lasse Hallstrom's "Chocolat" is a richly delicious movie. Set in post-WWII France, Juliette Binoche is luminous as Vianne,a gipsy who works magic with her chocolate. Alfred Molina stars as the melancholy, repressed Comte who initiates a crusade against her in the name of morality. With Rachel Portman's sensuous soundtrack,"Chocolat" is a delicious treat.
In "Chocolat",Vianne befriends the abused Josephine (Lena Olin) as well as the suffering Countess (Judi Dench),who's estranged from her uptight daughter Caroline (Carrie-Ann Moss). Vianne defiantly opens her chocolaterie during Lent. One can argue the premise is offensive-what if Vianne opened a hamburger shop in India,or sold pork in a Muslim country? Isn't Vianne being insensitive,or just adolescent? Vianne's chocolate shop ends up being a refuge and place of healing. Her chocolate is an aphrodisiac, spicing up a passionless marriage and jumpstarting a romance between an old widow (Leslie Caron) and a man who's pined for her since WWI. Johnny Depp leads the river pirates to the small French town. His name is Roux--so he's named for the butter-flour mixture that thickens soups. The plot thickens. In the meantime, the Comte is bullying the young priest. Doesn't he have anything better to do? To his credit, the Comte tries to reform Josephine's abusive husband Serge. As for the Countess, she is secretly suffering from diabetes and desires Death by Chocolate.
Vianne decides to have a Chocolate Festival to counter Easter. After kneeling before a crucifix, the Comte finds Vianne's chocolate goddess on an altar surrounded by Mayan and Aztec images. He succumbs to the temptation of the chocolate, and everyone gets a Happily Ever After.
"Chocolat" works as a light-hearted fable. It's sensuous and magical. It's delightful,fast-paced,and the ensemble cast is first-rate. One may disagree with the unrepentant,ungrateful Vianne,who doesn't thank the Divine for her healing gifts,or the fact that she doesn't know who her child's father is. Still, Vianne is compassionate and charitable. Even the villainous Comte has nuance,a man depressed from his wife's death. "Chocolat" is delicious. Succumb to the tasty temptation! Rating:
Date: 2008-05-05
Who can resist chocolate?
In this movie chocolate is used as a symbol for sexual desires at a time when people rarely expressed their inner feelings openly.
Ironically Vianne (Julliette Binoche) opens her shop in a conservative French village at a time when everyone was celebrating Lent, a fasting time for Catholics. She challenged their desires and discipline while they challenged her ambition and patience.
I did not recognize Johnny Depp in this movie. After seeing him in this role I wish I could see him playing "The Count of Monte Cristo" or "A Tale of Two Cities"
Overall this is one of the movies I would like to watch over and over again!
Rating:
Date: 2008-04-20
Chocolat
One of the best movies ever! Juilette Binoche is soooo good as is everybody in this movie. You really feel like you are in a little village in France.
Rating:
Date: 2008-04-11
Just as I had hoped...
I had never seen this movie before... I watched it & knew I wanted to own it.
I ordered it... received it VERY shortly in MINT condition.
Everything was GREAT!! |
