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Juliette Binoche, Lena Olin, Johnny Depp, Judi Dench, Alfred Molina ... see more see more... , Peter Stormare , Carrie-Anne Moss , Leslie Caron , John Wood , Hugh O'Conor , Victoire Thivisol , Aurelien Parent Koenig , Arnaud Adam

The most tempting of all sweets becomes the key weapon in a battle of sensual pleasure versus disciplined self-denial in this comedy. In 1959, a mysterious woman named Vianne (Juliette Binoche) moves ... read more read more...with her young daughter into a small French village, where much of the community's activities are dominated by the local Catholic church. A few days after settling into town, Vianne opens up a confectionery shop across the street from the house of worship -- shortly after the beginning of Lent. While the townspeople are supposed to be abstaining from worldly pleasures, Vianne tempts them with unusual and delicious chocolate creations, using her expert touch to create just the right candy to break down each customer's resistance. With every passing day, more and more of Vianne's neighbors are succumbing to her sinfully delicious treats, but the Comte de Reynaud (Alfred Molina), the town's mayor, is not the least bit amused; he is eager to see Vianne run out of town before she leads the town into a deeper level of temptation. Vianne, however, is not to be swayed, and with the help of another new arrival in town, a handsome Irish Gypsy named Roux (Johnny Depp), she plans a "Grand Festival of Chocolate," to be held on Easter Sunday. Based on the novel by Joanne Harris, Chocolat features a distinguished supporting cast, including Judi Dench, Lena Olin, Carrie-Anne Moss, Peter Stormare, Hugh O'Conor, and Leslie Caron. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

82% liked it

304,085 ratings

Critics

63% liked it

116 critics

PG-13, 2 hr. 1 min.

Directed by: Lasse Hallström, Alfred Molina, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugh O'Conor, John Wood, Johnny Depp, Judi Dench, Juliette Binoche, Lena Olin, Leslie Caron, Peter Stormare, Victoire Thivisol

Release Date: December 15, 2000

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DVD Release Date: August 7, 2001

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Stats: 17,596 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (17,596)

  • imrealgod
    September 20, 2011
    imrealgod
    A fairy-tale that obviously doesn't qualify as my favorite. You don't need no Vianne to tell that. Kids, among others, might find this Chocolat tasty.
  • moonrivers
    June 18, 2011
    moonrivers
    An international all star cast help concoct this pleasing little truffle about walking the thin line between sin and pleasure, magic and reality.
  • DreamExtractor
    April 5, 2011
    DreamExtractor
    I thought this was gonna be a dumb romance, but this movie was really good. The true great thing is the music, the score was perfect if you ask me. I think they could've made the town brighter and more colorful if you get what im saying. The acting was great, and deserved more... read more recognition. The plot was well done and fun. This was a very good movie, and I wish you see it.
  • ajaymuthecooldevils
    December 20, 2010
    ajaymuthecooldevils
    Brilliant movie, brilliant cast, and brilliant story blends with a tempting taste from all the chocolates into a great movie named 'Chocolat'... Juliette Binoche delivers a great performance as Vianne who try to keep her mother's secret recipes by travelling with her daughter fro... read morem place to place until she arrives in a small and unfriendly French village for her... The other cast did a great job too, Lena Olin, Alfred Molina, Johnny Depp, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Judi Dench, and they're all deserved at least a nominee... But unfortunately only Judi Dench who got it because yes she is hard to resist... Overall it's a really tempting movie about chocolates, wrapped with a great story and great music too...
  • 76Majikat
    September 30, 2010
    76Majikat
    Chocolat is a much better film than I?d expected it to be, a small town ruled by religion who?s inhabitants refrain from sin and are expected to refrain from the temptations.

    A very enjoyable performance from Juliette Binoche, who truly carries this film and is of course the... read more centre point of the story, this is by far the best of her filmography from those I?ve seen to date.

    Worry not Johnny Depp fans, whilst he doesn?t enter the film until a good way through, it?s not one of those cameo roles/small parts that claim it to be a Johnny Depp film when it clearly isn?t and in true Depp style his presence and character in this film, doesn?t quite fit with the people surrounding him.

    All in all this is one of those that is quite unique, almost in a fairy tale fashion, with a grown up touch, this is one that pulls you in to the heart of the community and one who?s title doesn?t quite give it the justice it somehow deserves, even though it?s completely fitting.
  • RossCollinsUK
    April 17, 2010
    RossCollinsUK
    French villagers' conservative lives are spiced up by the introduction of a chocolaterie. A twee 50s drama that tells a touching story if a touch too melodramatic at times. Interestingly, Juliette Binoche and Lena Olin's characters are almost exactly opposite to the roles they pl... read moreay in The Unbearable Lightness of Being.
  • MeetMeinMontauk
    January 7, 2010
    MeetMeinMontauk
    This always makes me want to eat chocolate. Yum. Johnny Depp helps with that... yum.
  • hobster1
    December 15, 2009
    hobster1
    Townspeople's lives begin to change under the influence of a woman who opens a small chocolaterie in a repressed French village. Beautiful production values and sophisticated score highlight this engrossing fairy tale come to life. Additionally the superlative performances by t... read morehe cast go a long way into making this film so enchanting. Occasionally the script's negative view of religion as a means to manipulate people's behavior, can be awfully preachy. However, more often than not, the story is a delightful confection that will make you smile.
  • ythelastman89
    November 20, 2009
    ythelastman89
    I think this was extremely overdone and got more attention than it deserved. It is an average script set in beautiful locations with romantic settings. That does not make a movie great. The acting wasn't anything special and the film making was nothing out of the ordinary.
  • SirPant
    September 22, 2009
    SirPant
    Apart from Judi Dench and Juliette Binoche this film is woefully miscast. That is possibly due to the fact that it?s filmed in English when it really would have worked better as a French production, with French actors and a half decent director (he's only made one good film and t... read morehat was My Life as a Dog). I was looking forward to this as I quite liked the book but this is a piss poor adaptation and a fairly rubbish film.

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Critic Reviews

Rick Groen
March 19, 2002
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

Ultimately, especially coming from director Lasse Hallstrom, such a slight flick doubles as a fat disappointment. Full Review

Peter Travers
February 6, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

A sinfully scrumptious bonbon.

Joe Baltake
January 5, 2001
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

Hallstrom has created the cinematic equivalent of chocolate on screen. Who could resist? Full Review

Steven Rea
January 4, 2001
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

One of those whimsical concoctions that tries too hard, and goes too long, for its own good.

Terry Lawson
January 4, 2001
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press

Chocolat, like Hallstrom's adaptation of The Cider House Rules, succeeds primarily through its casting.

Rita Kempley
December 22, 2000
Rita Kempley, Washington Post

An appealing comic fable aimed at those with a bittersweet tooth. Full Review

Susan Stark
December 22, 2000
Susan Stark, Detroit News

A lovely film, encouraging to those who need encouragement and confirming to those who know and live by the liberating truth it espouses. Full Review

Jay Boyar
December 22, 2000
Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel

It wants desperately to seem like a hand-made delight, but you can tell that it comes from a factory.

Eric Harrison
December 22, 2000
Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle

A sweet little movie. Full Review

Carla Meyer
December 22, 2000
Carla Meyer, San Francisco Chronicle

Suffers from disparate elements. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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