Chocolate — another reason to plunge into a good fairy tale In a small French town where everyone knows each other, on a winter evening, when it was snowing outside, a strange woman with a child arrives. She settles in the city, rents a room, and on the eve of fasting opens a chocolate store in the city. Immediately, everyone is attacked and scolded by her, mainly the mayor, and a couple more people, but after the arrival of Vienne, life in the city begins to change, and it is no longer possible to reverse it.
The movie is a fairy tale. Both literally and figuratively. From the very first shots, Hallström lets us plunge into his city, carefully recreated, making us believe in a fairy tale, in miracles, although it is a little naive, but it is great. It’s great that there are magical films like Chocolate or Amelie that promote good in all its forms. Although here, as in the whole “story drama” there is an opposing side in the person of the mayor of the city and the priest subordinate to him, but Vienne looks at it all with a smile. That's always the case. Any difficulties should be taken in person, and not be afraid of them.
I am sure that many people will immediately say that the film turns people against the church. I'll tell you right away, don't believe them. The church, and religion in general, is like an object, like a banality, which Hallström needs in order for the film to have some intrigue. The church in this film was like a weapon in the hands of an established society, and the man in the face of Vienne and her chocolate, and the same pirates, is a resistance to this wrong system. Although it sounds a little abstruse for a fairy tale, but, believe me, for those who want to just take a break from a rather difficult life, without going into the essence of the matter, the film will produce a positive effect on you, in the sense that it is not forced, easy, but at the same time, in its own genius.
Now the actors. Juliette Binoche. I only watched two movies with her, including this one. In this picture, I really liked her image of this heroine. Women are light, cheerful, but at the same time confident person. The role of the actors in this film cannot be expressed simply in words, it must be felt. Just like Judy Dench. It seemed as cold as always represents his character, but at the same time, if you look at it from the other side, from the side of the film, but it seems quite the opposite.
And of course, I can’t help but say that I consider the storyline with pirates superfluous, the story already seemed very interesting to me, but then no one would have gone to see the film, since there would not have been Johnny Depp.
Anyway, I really liked the movie. Great uplifting, while not devoid of meaning and with a rather decent plot, excellent acting (two female Oscar nominations speak for themselves), and of course great music. What Rachel Portman does to her is fantastic. Listen to the Vianne Sets Up Shop and you’ll understand. This composition imbues the entire film with its atmosphere, fairy tale, optimism, in general, all the best.
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