Review of Chocolat (2000) by Movie M — 08 Jul 2018

Reviewed 7.6.18 Full disclosure, I have a soft spot for this movie. The first time I viewed it many years ago, I was taken by the setting and made a point of writing down the name of the bucolic French town where much of it was filmed. Jump forward to 2012, and Flavigny-Sur-Ozerain was a stop on my honeymoon. Those memories certainly cloud my judgement of what I know is a sometimes hokey and formulaic film. But I do believe it retains its own charms, especially for those with a softness of spirit.

Juliet Binoche lights up the screen, perfectly embodying the life force of whimsical chocolatier, Vianne. Johnny Depp appears in a supporting role as perhaps his most normal screen character, nailing the role with good looks and simple charm. Alfred Molina is his regular solid self, deftly walking the line between loathe and like-ability. It's a movie for romantics, dreamers, and certainly chocolate lovers. And with a message that never spoils, it's a timeless treat.