In association with

Chocolat [2001]
from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainm
starring Juliette Binoche, Judi Dench, Alfred Molina, Carrie-Anne Moss, Antonio Gil
directed by Lasse Hallström

Features:

• PAL
• Widescreen

Editorial Review:

Chocolat is an enchanting, moving and heart-warming tale of love and temptation, a big-budget movie with its roots in European art house cinema. Magical and almost fairytale-like in theme, it's the story of the mysterious Vianne and her arrival in a quiet, old-fashioned French town at the end of the 1950s. Gradually her attitude to life and the delicacies that she prepares in her chocolate shop have a marked effect on the local people, bound as they are by the twin forces of religion and politics.

Juliette Binoche is perfect in the role of the sensuous, captivating Vianne--a masterstroke of casting matched by the performance of Judi Dench as the splendidly grumpy but ultimately inspiring matriarch Armande. Very much an ensemble piece, the whole cast are indeed excellent, with Johnny Depp (making a fair fist of an Irish accent) superb as the drifter Roux, the one man capable of unlocking Vianne's own desires. From its majestic opening swoop to the final, joyous scene, Lasse Hallström's film, based on the bestselling novel, is nothing short of a masterpiece.

On the DVD: As befits such a film, the DVD is an elegant, well thought out package. The movie itself is a visual feast, a combination of a beautiful setting, rich, opulent colours and textures and a mystical atmosphere. There's a range of documentary features examining the style of the film and its background, as well as an audio commentary and some excellent scenes deleted from the final cut. More in-depth notes are to be found in the accompanying booklet and the whole thing adds up to one of the most satisfying DVD releases in a long time. In one of the accompanying documentaries, Depp wonders if it is possible to create art through cinema. It may be a difficult task, but Chocolat is proof that it can be done.--Phil Udell

Customer Reviews:

• Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0

• Thin, whimsical story, nice acting, excellent photography
  Mother and daughter, both outsiders, blow into stuffy old-fashioned French village (cobbled streets, quaint houses, romantic lamplight, no cars, no uncouth farmers) and bring with them the power to release the claustrophobic and straight-laced community from its inhibitions - not the first time on screen that this formula has been employed. What is unusual is the medium they use. Delicious and irresistible chocolate confectionery tempts everyone, and turns then into better, more liberated people. In the... more info

• could johnny depp get any more good looking
  very touching film, very enjoyable. although Johnny Depp only has a small role what a fantastic one it is, gorgeous makes me want to run off and find my own irish gypsy. lovely. a good watch highly recommended

• Brilliant!
  This is a great movie. A delightful tale and a useful attempt to deliver the book on the big screen. They say that you write about what you know about and I understand that the original author did have French relatives involved in the confectionary trade.
  Chocolat transports you to small town France in the post World War 2 period. It's a wonderful tale of a theocratic community versus a single-minded secular entreprenuer. Also has great music throughout and wonderful acting by some well-known faces and... more info

• A delightful and interesting movie
  Chocolat is delightful as eating chocolate and interesting movie to really sulk into.
  The movie is about a new arrival in small community of rural France who all of a sudden opens a chocolate confectionary much to the disliking of many of the folks. Her antiques stirs public outrage, as the festival of Lent occurs at the same time. The traditions of the community are affected. Their is strong religious opposition to the chocolate confectionary. Does her shop reunite a community or creates imminents... more info

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