Chocolat (2000)

63% of critics liked it
(115 reviews)
82% of users liked it
(304,085 ratings)

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 with her young daughter into a small French village, where much of the community's activities are… More 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 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

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 2 hr. 1 min.
Directed By: Lasse Hallström, Alfred Molina
Written By: Robert Nelson Jacobs
Genres: Comedy, Romance

In Theaters: Dec 15, 2000 Wide
On DVD: Aug 7, 2001
Studio: Miramax

Critic Reviews

Rick Groen, Globe and Mail
Ultimately, especially coming from director Lasse Hallstrom, such a slight flick doubles as a fat disappointment.
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
A sinfully scrumptious bonbon.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
Hallstrom has created the cinematic equivalent of chocolate on screen. Who could resist?
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
One of those whimsical concoctions that tries too hard, and goes too long, for its own good.
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press
Chocolat, like Hallstrom's adaptation of The Cider House Rules, succeeds primarily through its casting.
Rita Kempley, Washington Post
An appealing comic fable aimed at those with a bittersweet tooth.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Fabulous French fairy tale for teens and up.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
It takes the radical stance that people should indulge their pleasures, unless they're really mean, in which case they should eat some chocolate and learn to be nice.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
A mythic fable about tolerance and love with the bitter-swet flavor of a candy that's not entirely fresh but still digestible.
Jeffrey Overstreet, Looking Closer
Most movies that criticize religion argue for the abolition of institutions. Chocolat suggests the problem lies in how people manipulate religion to get what they want.
James Plath, Reel.com
Like other magical realist works, Chocolat blends realistic and mystical ingredients in a concoction that's one part drama and one part deadpan comedy
John R. McEwen, Film Quips Online
I've not had a film make me crave chockies so much since Willy Wonka.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Whether or not viewers end up licking their fingers to pick up the scraps ... depends on their tolerance for a different type of sugary sin: syrup.
Jean Lowerison, San Diego Metropolitan
A charming film with serious undertones.
Margaret A. McGurk, Cincinnati Enquirer
Any movie built on the premise that chocolate can cure mental illness, restore marital passion, unite feuding relatives, assuage anger, defeat oppression, inspire art and get you a date with Johnny Depp is all right in my book.

Read all 15 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

familiar s

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.
moon r

An international all star cast help concoct this pleasing little truffle about walking the thin line between sin and pleasure, magic and reality.
Brad W

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… More
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 recognition. The plot was well done and fun. This was a very good movie, and I wish you see it.
Sanjaya &

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… More
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 from 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...
Lady D

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… More
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 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.
Ross C

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… More
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 play in The Unbearable Lightness of Being.
Jennifer D

This always makes me want to eat chocolate. Yum. Johnny Depp helps with that... yum.
Mark H

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… More
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 the 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.
Conner R

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.
Anthony L

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… More
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 that 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.
Emile T

A touching and beautiful film.
Film C

i love this movie and i cryed so i love tearjerkers its a lovely romcom and i always lov it when the underdog accomplishes his hoals really worth a watch
Cassie H

Not what I expected. When I watched this I was very tired and this movie is one that just draged on and you wanted it to end. Johnny Depp fans will be very dissapointed. Seriously!
Daniel P

What exactly does one say about this one? Good story, good acting, all around good movie. It paints a very nice portrait of rural France in transition, and shows the stranglehold of catholicism being broken in the 1960s - it's not necessarily the chocolate shop that does it,… More
What exactly does one say about this one? Good story, good acting, all around good movie. It paints a very nice portrait of rural France in transition, and shows the stranglehold of catholicism being broken in the 1960s - it's not necessarily the chocolate shop that does it, it's just a microcosm of a greater social change. It questions the things we cling to in the face of change, and the reasons for resisting change. A timeless film.
Kylie B

Okay, but the use of colour was such a prominant feature of the novel that I can't understand the somewhat sepia or bland-tones used here. Also, the changes are offputting for me (while I wanted Vianne and Roux to get it on, it didn't happen for a reason) .
Candy R

Story about a sleepy village that is awakened by mysterious visitors. An unconventional mother who makes delicious chocolate and an Irish boatsman.
Bruce B

I put off seeing this movie, but somehow it made it to the top of my Netflix list, I had moved it down a number of times. After seeing it I can?t believe this movie came out in 2000 and I missed it. Also after seeing it I am sorry that I ever put off seeing it. It was a outstanding… More
I put off seeing this movie, but somehow it made it to the top of my Netflix list, I had moved it down a number of times. After seeing it I can?t believe this movie came out in 2000 and I missed it. Also after seeing it I am sorry that I ever put off seeing it. It was a outstanding movie, but with actors like Johnny Depp, Juliette Binoche Alfred Molina, , Carrie-Ann Moss, Lena Olin, and .Judy Dench, what else would one expect. This is one of those Don?t judge a DVD by its cover. A single mom enters a French village and sets up a candy shop across from the church, and the mayor goes crazy and leads the town people to hate the shop and its owner, but one by one she win?s each ones heart with a chocolate. After seeing this I ran down town and had me two candy bars, something I haven?t done in years, go figure, power of suggestion, Anyway its 5 stars and nothing short of and it goes in the collection. You need to see it.
Mason W

Chocolat starring Juliette Binoche, Johnny Depp, Lena Olin, and Judy Dench is a sinfully good movie. A mysterious lady and her daughter move into this small European village and brings everyone a live with some wonderful chocolate. Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp are great in this… More
Chocolat starring Juliette Binoche, Johnny Depp, Lena Olin, and Judy Dench is a sinfully good movie. A mysterious lady and her daughter move into this small European village and brings everyone a live with some wonderful chocolate. Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp are great in this film.
Cherry D

&hearts;Roux: "I should probably warn ya you make friends with us you make enemies with others." Vianne: "Is that a promise." Roux: "It's a guarantee." &hearts;<br> Simple, sweet, warm-hearted story with beautiful scenery and a… More
&hearts;Roux: "I should probably warn ya you make friends with us you make enemies with others." Vianne: "Is that a promise." Roux: "It's a guarantee." &hearts;<br> Simple, sweet, warm-hearted story with beautiful scenery and a good soundtrack. I like how it has a children's fairytale feel while still dealing with some serious adult issues but you can't really go wrong with performances from Juliette Binoche, Judi Dench and a small one from Johnny Depp now can ya. Lena Olin played her part beautifully and Alfred Molina was perfect for his role of the Comte. Love it =) <a href="http://s249.photobucket.com/albums/gg239/aphrodite-90/?action=view&current=chocolat1-1.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg239/aphrodite-90/chocolat1-1.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Michael S

lighthearted and engaging.