Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1098 in DVD
• Released on: 2001-11-26
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 117 minutes

Amazon.co.uk 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

DVD Description
DVD Special Features
Subtitles: English/English for the hearing impaired
Languages: Dolby Digital 5.1: English
Audio commentary
Deleted scenes
The making of Chocolat
The costumes of Chocolat
Production Design featurette

Synopsis
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.)

Customer Reviews

better than a Mars bar
Let me tell you I am a twenty stone man who has been in a few fights in his time and have not got a romantic bone in my body. However this film is just sooooooooo nice it almost makes me cry. You can see the synopsis and characters etc by reading the other reviews so I won't bore you with my knowledge of trivia. This film is just fantastic in every sense of the word. Buy it or I will beat you up.

Mouth-watering confectionary
Delicious! A delightful fantasy of life, love, the power of desire, and the fight of good and evil. Eating chocolate during lent is used as a metaphor for breaking through oppressive tradition and living life with no prejudices. As the priest says - judge youself by what you embrace, not what you deny. The film is a magical humourous whimsy set in a "never-was" french village brimming over with slightly unreal characters. Juliet Binoche, Alfred Molina, Lena Olin and Judi Dench are delightful in their roles - Alfred Molina especially good as the driven but tragic Mayor, keeping the character from being a pantomime villain. Leslie Caron is still as radiant as she was in Gigi, and Johnny Depp ties with Juliet Binoche for the title of most beautiful person on the planet! Although he's probably a better guitar player.

The DVD transfer shows off the deep rich textures of the chocolate and the town to perfection, and enhances the musical score, which is almost a character in itself. The extra material is welcome, though a little lightweight - the commentary by director and producers is informative, although a few members of the cast would have enhanced it. The deleted scenes looked very interesting, but the sound on them was unfortunately inaudible. The documentary was the usual entertaining fluff. I would still recommend the DVD over the video, though, if only for the perfect picture and sound.

It's interesting that all the Brits reviewing the film on Amazon.co.uk praise it for it's eccentricities and fantasy, whereas all the americans on Amazon.com damn it for being unrealistic and manipulative. A film for dreamers, not cynics, perhaps?...

Sweet and Sexy
Having seen this film only a few weeks ago I thought it was a real feel good film. Since seeing the film I have read the book and think that the film is jst as good as the book, even though there are some big changes made to the plot I think that they work.
I thought tha Juliette Binoche was magical and Judi Dench really brought Armande to life. Johnny Depp (despite being gorgeous!) was a good gypsy although I am not quite sure why he was Irish?
All in all I think that it is well worth a watch and good for a night in with ice cream and pop corn!! :)