"Once upon a time ..."
It takes courage to start a film with a phrase as old as this. Mind you, not the courage of those who stands in front of a tank in a huge square to try to stop him. That is the courage of heroes or madmen. This is the courage to say just how things are. "Once upon a time ..." and immediately declares that what follows does not belong to the world everyday, the things known, predictable and mundane after all. "Once upon a time ..." and the fact that there is still depends on how we viewers are willing to believe that fairy tales can come true.
"Once upon a time ..."
Lansquenet-sous-Tannes, 1959. The name of the country makes you understand everything. E 'on top of a hill, surrounded by a picture-postcard cottages and many wrapped around City Hall overlooks the square where the church and, as if the square was a stage of a theater, just on the other side that will become vacant shop magic shop ...
Mayor Lansquenet-sous-Tannes, Earl Reynaud (Alfred Molina), watches over all. On his feelings first. The wife looks at him from a photo, but time no longer thinks of him, and the trip in Italy that are always used as an excuse for her absence does not believe now any more. Welcomes people of the country on the church door, watch over the morals and respect for tradition and not allow any hesitation and exceptions. Not even the parish priest, Father Henri (Hugh O'Conor), who, obviously young and inexperienced, you see the correct sermons with a zeal worthy of the many other causes. E 'Lent, a time of fasting, fasting and fasting will be. But the north wind starts to blow up Lansquenet, and carries it through the leaves, which raises tens, two red cloaks. Then you wonder why red. And while the church mass is celebrated and the wind opens the door, the two red cloak knocking at a door. They say the country is in church, but it is not true. The old Voizine Armande (Judy Dench, nominated for best supporting actress) is in the house, and rent to Vianne Rocher (Juliette Binoche) and Anuk (Victoire Thivisol) that vacant shop next to the church and in front at City Hall. What the old Armande rent are not the sentiments. Too closely linked to life in order to shut her up in a diabetic patient, for this gesture of rebellion clashes with the daughter who refuses even to see their grandson.
Vianne and Anouk have a history magic, with the other red capes, and you wonder how they do with the size and where to take them, those red coats, and carry with them the seeds of cocoa and pepper, a kangaroo with a diseased leg and the gift of understanding with the little people in front. Within days, the store vacancy becomes a temptation that challenges people of Morigerati Lansquenet. Chocolate and chocolates of all shapes, sizes and colors, invade the window and make the intentions falter more balances of fasting. Reynaud hardly believe insolence of Vianne and vows to make it fail ... But the chocolate Vianne makes small miracles, and seems to fulfill the wishes of all. There are chocolates that awaken the desire for a husband who seemed lost, the ones that give the strength to leave home to an unhappily married woman, Josephine (Lena Olin, director's wife), those that allow one to declare the old widow who did not dare approach ... But Vianne is that which gives the chocolate its almost magical power that returns the smile to his fellow citizens.
"The Maya believed that cocoa had the power to unlock the hidden desires and reveal destiny. "
But with the power of magic Vianne brings a kind of curse that goes, after an interval of time or longer, to move to another country to give a bit of happiness to other people. Till. As long as the river, Lansquenet-sous-Tannes called this river the country and shares its fate, comes a group of travelers and Roux (Johnny Depp). Imagine. Before his wife, who invents the trip to Italy and instead who knows where. And the sermons of the young priest to correct and strengthen. Then the chocolate in Lent. Then the husband of the woman fled the house, Muscat Serge (Peter Stormare), to be redeemed to show that you do not mess with marriage. Now well as travelers. Reynaud sees it attacked on all fronts and vents to the wrong person: Serge. Taking it to the letter and sets fire to the barges of the night wandering Vianne and the others are up there to celebrate the birthday of Armande. Anouk Josephine and risk dying. But this incident will force the mayor to understand that his intransigence was misplaced and excessive, for it finally capitulate to the delights of chocolate and its secretary, Claimont Caroline (Carrie-Ann Moss).
"Once upon a time ..."
A fable, and like all fairy tales that respect, a happy ending. The gift of "reading" the soul of its customers and to soften their sentences with the right chocolate, but especially with the right attitude and the ability to understand their needs, gives Vianne magical aura that allows it to move from one country to another, giving a little 'color and life greyed to the lives of those who live in those countries. Mysterious and magical aura. But
of magic, mystery, sweetness, delicacy and chocolate you can ever do without it, and do not really envy those who, a mere spectator or critic by profession, was unable to get filled the hearts (and throat!) From a story that has nothing excessive, if not to remain faithful to its promises from the first image: "Once upon a time ..."
And when the kangaroo paw that had the ill and was seen only by Anouk finally heals and goes his way, the certainty that we will always need stories like this and we never tire of seeing them and to fascinate us makes us feel a bit 'more children and us happy ...
Chocolat (ibid., GB / USA, 2000) 2'01 "
Director: Lasse Hallström
Starring: Lena Olin (Josephine Muscat), Juliette Binoche (Vianne Rocher), Johnny Depp (Roux), Carrie-Anne Moss (Caroline Claimont)
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