Not as charming as it thinks
Chocolat
Directed by Lasse Hallstrom
Starring: Juliette Binoche, Johnny Depp, Lena Olin & Judi Dench
In lieu of any major releases this year, Mirimax have spent a fortune in ads in the US to bring this film to the attention of the Academy. It has paid off, and this low-key drama has been nominated for five Oscars, including Best Picture. Well, money talks in Hollywood.
Chocolat is set in a small French village, Lansquenet, whose inhabitants are hemmed in by a strong Catholic and patriarchal tradition, upheld by the mayor, who greets the citizens at church every Sunday. Imagine the shock when atheist Vianne (Binoche) snubs Sunday mass in favour of setting up a chocolate shop. And during Lent too! The devil!
Binoche revels in her role as loveable rogue-hero and deserves her Oscar nomination for a versatile performance. Pity about the French accent, which she only remembers from time to time.
The movie's 110 minutes chart the impact Vianne and her young daughter have on village society. They inevitably fall into conflict with the mayor, who attempts to drive her out of business, believing he is doing the will of God. However, despite the strong religious theme on show here, this tale is not moralistic, and it has no `grey' areas of questionable morality. There is a clear `good' and `bad', or `misguided'. The lesson is: let go! have fun! eat lots of chocolate!! Or at least that's the message I took while I was waiting for the inevitable fairytale, happier-than-happy ending. Which duly arrives after too many predictable and dull plot twists.
Chocolat does have its funny moments, and perhaps it would be as `charming' as it pertains to be if it were an independent French feature, rather than Hollywood trying to `do' low-key. And, as is obligatory these days, we have a rebellious soul (Johnny Depp) sporting a thoroughly crap Irish accent. As an outsider he helps Vianne rail against the repressive village (among other things, ahem!).
The bottom line is, if you like the idea of a naïve fairytale for adults, go and see it. If not, ignore the hype and stay away.
BY BRENDAN HOGAN
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