Lasse Hallstrom's CHOCOLAT is set in the late 1950s, but it might as well be the late 1850s in a small French town where everyone behaves as they should (supposedly), and attends church regularly. When a strong north wind blows through town, it brings the vivacious and mysterious Vianne (Juliette Binoche) and her young daughter, Anouk (Victoire Thivisol). Vianne--an unwed mother who declines to go to church and opens up a chocolate shop in the midst of Lent--is soon the talk of the town. Her good-natured, honorable personality and psychic ability (she can predict what kind of sweets best suit each person, and magically cures each of them of their particular maladies) make her as irresistible as her delectable treats. However, Vianne and her daughter are resented by the conservative mayor, the Comte de Reynaud (Alfred Molina), and by the pious Caroline (Carrie-Anne Moss), who has disowned her own spirited mother (Judi Dench, who plays Vianne's landlady), refusing the elderly woman access to her beloved grandson.This touching fairy tale, based on the novel by Joanne Harris, was filmed on location in rural France. An intelligent, exquisitely filmed fable that deals with the idea of 20th century paganism rising up against a closed-minded church and a persevering aristocracy, CHOCOLAT is enjoyable, romantic, and entertaining, with affecting performances by both its stars and its supporting actors (Lena Olin and Johnny Depp.)
Product Identifiers
Producer
David Brown, Leslie Holleran, Kit Golden
EAN
5017188883313
eBay Product ID (ePID)
3950259
Product Key Features
Film/TV Title
Chocolat
Actor
John Wood, Hugh O'conor, Lena Olin, Johnny Depp, Alfred Molina, Carrie-Anne Moss, Peter Stormare, Judi Dench, Juliette Binoche, Leslie Caron
Director
Lasse Hallstrom
Subtitle Language
English
Format
DVD
Language
English
Release Year
2001
Features
Widescreen, Closed Caption, Deleted Scenes\The Comte Collects The Rent\Are We Going To Move Again\Milking The Cow\Cat Food\Boule Game\Hair Today Gone Tomorrow\The Making Of Chocolat\Production Design Featurette\The Costume Of Chocolat\Commentary With Director Lasse Hallstrom And Producers David Brown Kit Golden And Leslie Holleran, With Subtitles
Aspect Ratio
1.85 Wide Screen
Genre
Drama, Romantic
Run Time
117 Mins
Additional Product Features
Certificate
12A/12
Number of Discs
1
Country/Region of Manufacture
United States of America
Director of Photography
Roger Pratt
Production Designer
David Gropman
Reviews
Sight and Sound - ...A radiant central performance from Juliette Binoche and appealing supporting turns from Judi Dench and Johnny Depp....The film is beautifully shot..., Entertainment Weekly - ...As fudge-y as advertised....[Binoche is] luscious..., Total Film - ...[CHOCOLAT has] many pleasures. It's often very funny and the town looks a treat, a sort of Neverneverland that lends the movie a fairytale quality...
Author
Joanne Harris
Consumer Advice
Contains moderate sex
Hearing Impaired
English
Movie/TV Title
Chocolat
Composer
Rachel Portman
Executive Producer
Harvey Weinstein, Meryl Poster, Bob Weinstein, Alan C. Blomquist