Chocolat (2000)

A woman and her daughter open a chocolate shop in a small French village that shakes up the rigid morality of the community.

Director:

Lasse Hallström

Writers:

Joanne Harris (novel), Robert Nelson Jacobs (screenplay)

Stars:

Juliette Binoche, Judi Dench, Alfred Molina

Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 7 wins & 31 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alfred Molina	...	Comte de Reynaud
Carrie-Anne Moss	...	Caroline Clairmont
Aurelien Parent Koenig	...	Luc Clairmont (as Aurèlien Parent Koenig)
Antonio Gil	...	Jean-Marc Drou (as Antonio Gil-Martinez)
Hélène Cardona	...	Francoise 'Fuffi' Drou
Harrison Pratt	...	Dedou Drou
Gaelan Connell	...	Didi Drou
Élisabeth Commelin	...	Yvette Marceau (as Elisabeth Commelin)
Ron Cook	...	Alphonse Marceau
Guillaume Tardieu	...	Baptiste Marceau
Hugh O'Conor	...	Father Henri
John Wood	...	Guillaume Blérot
Lena Olin	...	Josephine Muscat
Peter Stormare	...	Serge Muscat
Leslie Caron	...	Madame Audel

Storyline

When single mother Vianne Rocher (Juliette Binoche) and her six-year-old daughter, Anouk (Victoire Thivisol) move to rural France and open a chocolate shop, with Sunday hours, across the street from the local church, they are met with some skepticism. But as soon as they coax the townspeople into enjoying their delicious products, they are warmly welcomed.

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Plot Keywords:

chocolate | france | village | food | chocolate shop | 

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Taglines:

A comic fable from the director of "The Cider House Rules".

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for a scene of sensuality and some violence

Details

Official Sites:

Juliette Binoche: The Art of Being - Official Fansite Official site

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

19 January 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Chocolat

Filming Locations:

Noyers-sur-Serein, Yonne, France

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$157,624, 17 December 2000

Gross USA:

$71,509,363

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$152,699,946

Company Credits

Production Co:

Miramax, David Brown Productions, Fat Free

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although Johnny Depp lived in France at the time of filming, he doesn't appear in any of the scenes shot in France. All of his scenes were filmed on a set, or on-location in England. All of Dame Judi Dench's scenes were filmed in England. The DVD commentary notes that her husband was very ill during the shoot, and it was important for her to be close to home.

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Goofs

In one of the scenes where Vianne is getting the pot of hot chocolate to pour a cup for Armande, there is a 1990s-style heating device near where she got the pot.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Storyteller: Once upon a time, there was a quiet little village in the French countryside, whose people believed in Tranquilité - Tranquility.
[Sunday morning congregation sings]
Storyteller: If you lived in this village, you understood what was expected of you. You knew your place in the scheme of things. And if you happened to forget, someone would help remind you.
[wife kicks sleeping husband in pew]
Father Henri: The season of Lent is upon us. This is of course a time of abstinence. Hopefully also it's a time of ...
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in iZombie: Brainless in Seattle, Part 2 (2018)

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Soundtracks

Minor Swing/They're Red Hot/Caravan
Produced and Arranged by Bob Last/Malcolm Ross
Guitars Johnny Depp/Malcolm Ross
Percussion Iain Stoddart (as Ian Stoddart)
Harmonium Malcolm Ross
Recorded at Finiflex Recording Studio, Edinburgh
Engineered by Robin Hickman & John Vick
Mixed by Nick Wollage at Air Studios, London

User Reviews

How did this not win any of the 5 Oscars it was nominated for?

Unbelievable when a film so different and has so much charm but doesn't get awards I'm offended! Anyway though Chococlat is lovely while being a bit boring which is ok cause it's very well done. I don't have much to say it's a decadent treat of beauty.