Review of Chocolat (2000) by Stuart K — 10 Aug 2010

Directed by Lasse Hallström, best known for What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) and The Cider House Rules (1999) comes this touching and warm drama based on the book by Joanne Harris, which had come out the year before this.

It's got a very good cast, and the chocolate in the film looks delicious. Set in the small French town of Lansquenet-sous-Tannes in 1959, it has Vianne Rocher, (Juliette Binoche) and her imaginative daughter Anouk (Victoire Thivisol) who come into town and open up a chocolaterie, rented from elderly local Armande Voizin (Judi Dench).

However, she opens the store during the 40 Days of Lent, which gets opposition from the more puritanical members of the town, led by the mayor Comte Paul de Reynaud (Alfred Molina). There is a battle of wills between those who resist temptation and those who cannot, then a band of gypsies, led by Roux (Johnny Depp) get thrown into the mix, when the town fights against them.

It's a gentle little romance, with some very good performances throughout including Binoche and Dench, and Depp's little cameo works wonders, with Lena Olin and Carrie-Anne Moss rounding out a literally sweet film.