Chocolat (1988)

A French woman returns to her childhood home in Cameroon - formerly a colonial outpost - where she's flooded by memories, particularly of Protée, her servant.

Director:

Claire Denis

Writers:

Claire Denis, Jean-Pol Fargeau

Stars:

Isaach De Bankolé, Giulia Boschi, François Cluzet

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Isaach De Bankolé	...	Protée
Giulia Boschi	...	Aimée Dalens
François Cluzet	...	Marc Dalens
Jean-Claude Adelin	...	Luc
Laurent Arnal	...	Machinard
Jean Bediebe	...	Prosper
Jean-Quentin Châtelain	...	Courbassol
Emmanuelle Chaulet	...	Mireille Machinard
Kenneth Cranham	...	Boothby
Jacques Denis	...	Joseph Delpich
Cécile Ducasse	...	France enfant / France, as a girl
Clementine Essono	...	Marie-Jeanne
Didier Flamand	...	Capt. Védrine
Essindi Mindja	...	Blaise
Donatus Ngala

Storyline

A young French woman returns to the vast silence of West Africa to contemplate her childhood days in a colonial outpost in Cameroon. Her strongest memories are of the family's houseboy, Protee - a man of great nobility, intelligence and beauty - and the intricate nature of relationships in a racist society.

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Plot Keywords:

cameroon | africa | racism | colonialism | male nudity | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

PG-13

Did You Know?

Quotes

Marc Dalens: When you look at the hills, beyond the houses and beyond the trees, where the earth touches the sky, that's the horizon. Tomorrow, in the daytime, I'll show you something. The closer you get to that line, the farther it moves. If you walk towards it, it moves away. It flees from you. I must also explain this to you. You see the line. You see it, but it doesn't exist.

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Connections

Referenced in XX/XY (2002)

User Reviews

a thoughtful and interesting movie

By way of a woman's remembrance we are asked to reflect upon themes - coming of age, colonialism, race, religion, the power of the elements - that are often presented in a heavy-handed and awkward manner.

This film is very understated and thoughtful. There is no one single message or moral here; these are complex themes and so there is often ambiguity.

I liked this film very much. I know this will seem trite, but, not many American Directors make small films like this - ones that deal with complex themes in a gentle and intelligent manner.

Details

Country:

France West Germany Cameroon

Language:

French English Hausa

Release Date:

May 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Chocolat

Filming Locations:

Mindif, Cameroon

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,710, 20 September 2015

Gross USA:

$2,319,801

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,319,801

Company Credits

Production Co:

Caroline Productions, Cerito Films, Cinémanuel

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1