Chocolat

The review (“Chocolat”)
The movie “Chocolat”, directed by Lasse Hallstrom is based on the novel of the same name by Joane Harris. This drama-film gives a certain message to the viewers: how important it is to be optimistic, to live your life without setting up too many rules, to stand out of the crowd and not to care much about the attitude of the society. The film is tender and heartwarming and stimulates all kind of emotions: it can make you both laugh and cry.
The movie starts with the biography of a single woman, Vianne, who travels with her daughter around the world. Vianne has passion for making chocolate. That is how she combines business and hobby. However her chocolate is special, it has an incredible taste, which no one can resist. Once Vianne and her daughter arrive at a small French village, they open their own “Chocolateria”. Unfortunately, the Mayor of the town is this kind of man, who has his own prejudice. Being a respected man of the town, he makes Vianne an outsider and she cannot get the appreciation of the inhabitants of the
French town. Due to her kindness, sympathy and chocolate she eventually makes really good friends with some people there. One day a handsome gypsy, Roux, comes to the town in his houseboat and catches Vianne's eye. Now Roux and Vianne have to inspire the locals to give up on hypocrisy and remember about love.
As far as the acting concerned, the cast is rather surprising, but at the same time, all the actors performed perfectly together. For example, Juliette Binoche, as Vianne is a fine actress. She was able to show all the contradictory features of Vianne, the image of femininity, and at the same time of courage and stubbornness. The other actor, who
I would also like to point at is Alfred Molina (the Mayor of the town). His character is not ordinary. He had to play not only a bad guy, but also an unhappy man, who was left by his wife, therefore all the years he had to cope with loneliness and refrain himself from happiness and joy.
Another aspect of the film which deserves mention is impressive photography. A sombre landscape of a small French town presented like a town from a fairytale for children. Although the film was shot in the village of “Flavoring-sur-Ozerain” in

France, the river and all the interior scenes were filmed in Wiltshire, England.
However, at first glance, it is really difficult to differentiate.
To sum up, I feel that the movie “Chocolat” is special and many people would find it fascinating. To me, it is a great mixture of an ingenious story, skillfully and beautifully directed scene and talented actors and actresses. If you have not seen it, make sure you do not miss it.