Chocolat Essay- Tolerance

'Chocolat' a film directed by Lasse Hallstrom, centres around a small village by which on the surface may seem peaceful and in 'tranquillity' but beyond the surface lay many individuals and larger groups of people, families, face issues of isolation, acceptance and tolerance within the community. These major themes are portrayed through animated actors whom Hallstrom accentuates these ideas through filmic techniques.
Isolation a major issue in this film and Hallstrom has conveyed this idea constantly throughout the film. The introduction of the film has shot the village from bird's eye view and these continuous overhead shots express the isolation and disconnection the village has from the rest of the country. The scenery of mountains and large landscapes of forestry and the long river depict a peacefulness and tranquillity and also at the same time creating a sense of vastness and distance this village has from the busy civilisation of France.
Vianne and her daughter Anouk are travellers and foreign to the village, were foreshadowed to be isolated individuals before they even stepped into the village. The voice over narrated, " there was once a quiet little village where people believed in tranquillity" and the slam of the church doors were magnified and the effect of the silence that came afterwards with long shots of the front of the church established the 'tranquillity'' and also the force of law and order in this village- everyone had attended church, no one was outside with other plans to do. The traditional hymn of the church was contrasted against the ethereal music and the wind sounds that weaved through the preacher's speech. This wind signified a change. The voice over explained, " villagers held to their traditions until a sly wind blew in from the north" and a point of view shot from the wind's perspective pushing the church doors open interrupting the silence and the preach further stresses the disturbance and changes that will occur to the