Chocolat
Chocolat
PG-13 | 22 December 2000 (USA)
Chocolat Trailers

A mother and daughter move to a small French town where they open a chocolate shop. The town, religious and morally strict, is against them, as they represent free-thinking and indulgence. When a group of gypsies arrive by riverboat, the Mayor's prejudices lead to a crisis.

Reviews
Matrixston

Wow! Such a good movie.

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Cubussoli

Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

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Wordiezett

So much average

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Billy Ollie

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

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Filipe Neto

This film is a kind of modern tale and speaks essentially of the right to be different and of the injustice we can commit when judging a person we do not know simply because it is different from us. The story, set in a small French conservative village in the sixties, shows the difficulties a woman feels in integrating and thriving a factory of handmade chocolates. The problem is that this woman does not fit into that society, outdated by nature and led by a deeply backward aristocrat, clinging to the ancient privileges of her lineage. She is modern, single mom and her sweet ones have the ability to awaken the most secret desires of those who eat them. It gets worse later, with the arrival of a group of gypsies, which the village initially faces as dangerous rioters. For those who are inattentive, the film may seem like a harsh criticism of the Catholic Church and conservatism, but it is not. It uses religion as a vehicle for criticizing hypocrisy, those people who speak one thing and act in a totally opposite way for convenience, shyness or fear of criticism.The film has excellent scenarios and everything fits very well in context and historical time. The connection between Vianne and the ancient Amerindian people seems a bit forced but ends up being digestible with the unfolding of the film. The actors generally did a great job, but there are three that deserve a special mention, on merit: Juliette Binoche, who plays Vianne in a very pleasant and convincing way, Alfred Molina, in the role of the ultra-conservative Count and Judi Dench, who gave life to the eccentric Armande. The film also features Johnny Depp as the gypsy boss, but he is clearly lefting in this film. His character does not fit well and he lacks chemistry with the cast, particularly Binoche. It was a mistake to conceive his character the way it was conceived.

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Chloe

This will forever be one my favorite films. While the plot is a relatively straightforward story about a small town, the film is packed with powerful messages that can benefit everyone, regardless of their background. Each character is well-developed, interesting, and unique, with stellar performances given by all, most notably Juliette Binoche and Judi Dench. The set and location of the film are simple, yet pleasant. Perhaps the only scenes where the characters aren't the center of attention are those where Vianne is making delectable chocolate creations. It just goes to show that telling a good story doesn't require fancy effects or breath-taking scenery. Throughout the film, the overarching themes seem to be the influence of tradition, while the main message is one of tolerance and acceptance. Both Vianne and the conservative villagers struggle with the prospect of giving up certain traditions. Vianne embodies what a main character should be: bold and courageous, but not infallible. She struggles to let go of her timeless family tradition that involves moving from place to place. Meanwhile, the villagers struggle to challenge their own religious traditions and accept ideologies separate from their own. They initially refuse to enter her shop, even though by doing so they would be rewarded with delicious chocolate. This shows just how much influence tradition can have over people. When Roux enters the village, he is treated as an outcast by everyone except Vianne. The romantic relationship that blossoms from their encounter further serves to show viewers that acceptance brings mutual rewards. Overall, as the movie progresses, both Vianne and the villagers go through a slow, believable transitional period with several setbacks along the way. The film furthers this message of acceptance by extending it to single mothers and independent women, both frowned upon especially during that time. The villagers at first are shocked that Anouk is Vianne's illegitimate child, but soon overcome their judgments and realize that this does not define her. Another woman, Josephine, leaves her husband after suffering domestic abuse, eventually gaining control over the café he used to own and starting to live life by her own terms. Another intriguing aspect of the film is that the focus remains on the transitional period of the characters. While you may be left to wonder about some things, especially the paternity of Anouk, they are purposefully not revealed because they aren't relevant to the story. The film never strays from the characters and their interactions except to reveal something that is essential to the current story line. Overall, I would recommend this film to everyone. In a world increasingly divided because of our differences, we could all learn something from Vianne's tolerance and kindness.

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AlexanderExtazy

Every chocolate baked in the store has its own pleasure in it. This is one of the best movies that Depp has acted in (storyline- wise I mean).Two strangers moving in to a new town in the middle of France is an aspiring story of entrepreneurship.With a great combination of talent, desire, and ambition; this young single mother managed to push through the incumbency of a small city's arrogance and embrace the entire city with her delights.Such is the story of any ambitious entrepreneur who wishes to swim in seas full of sharks; in this case the shark is an arrogant official who must have been breastfed too much or not enough.Despite all the blockages, this young woman managed to gain the city's respect (including the official) by her astonishing business.Great plot and story from start to finish. Too bad movies like that don't exist anymore.

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lightofthejul

From beginning to end this movie delights me! The first time I saw it I was enchanted at how seamlessly and stylishly everything flowed. The story was like magic of the chocolate , smooth , classy, creamy indulgence. Not only lovely to look at but the underlying message is wise and moving beyond what you think you are going to see. The title again seals it , you think you know what you are going to get, but the taste lingers long after it's done. I must say the performances are ALL memorable, all shine, glow and leave you with that sweet blush of too much but the need for more!! Bravo to all for this lovely, lovely film! MORE PLEASE!!! Julie Barnes

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