Chocolat

[Lorelei]

I finally got to see this film over the weekend and enjoyed it a great deal. It's a story about a small French town with people who have minds as narrow as their streets. This narrowmindedness is fed by the mayor of the town who pretty much writes the sermons for their young, malleable priest. The mayor (played by Alfred Molina) uses religion to control everyone and is therefore threatened by a Viann (played by Juliette Binoche) who "blows in" with the wind and sets up a chocolate shop. In the mayor's mind it's bad enough that she's setting up a chocolate shop during lent, but she doesn't go to church herself AND she has an illegitimate daughter. Of course, one can't hate the mayor too much, because it's obvious that he controls everyone else because he has no control over one important aspect of his own life.

The mayor's boycott and the townspeople's reluctance doesn't phase Viann and she entices people into her store with her artistic chocolate renditions and compassionate spirit. There are relationships and broken lives to mend in this town and Viann is the person to do this.

I think what I liked best about the movie were the unspoken stories. The Mayan influence in the decor, so out of place in this French town, reminded you of Viann's exotic heritage and the reason behind her restlessness.

Don't go to see this film hungry. Or make sure you're loaded with enough cash to buy some of those exorbitant movie theater snacks.