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Like
Mary Poppins some 40 years earlier, Juliette Binoche blows
into the quiet French town of Lansquenet and subtly sets
about shaking the townsfolk out of their subservient ways.
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| I
don't believe it. That's the tenth cream egg she's
eaten in the last twenty minutes |
But
just as Julie Andrews found opposition in the form of
George Banks, the father of Jane and Michael, so Vianne
Rocher (Binoche) runs into trouble with the local Mayor.
Alfred
Molina plays the Comte de Reynaud. He's a god-fearing
man who's family have run the town for generations. He
doesn't believe in change. He does believe everyone should
be in church on a Sunday. Ms. Rocher does not attend.
Worse
still, she dares to open a chocolate shop at the beginning
of Lent.
The
battle lines are drawn with the Mayor encouraging most
of the population to boycott the shop. But the magical
lure of the chocolate delights soon result in allies for
the free-spirited Ms. Rocher in the form of a beaten wife
(Olin), a cranky diabetic (Dench) and her grandchild (Aurelien
Parent Kocnig).
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| For
my next number I'd like to play the Candy Man |
The
arrival of gypsy Johnny Depp only adds to her team (and
provides the soft-centred love interest). How he manages
to woo her with a dreadful Irish accent is an unanswered
question!
It's
a strange mixture this film. Light hearted and yet pushing
the theme of not always conforming and being tolerant
of others. You could say it's a mix of soft and hard centres.
As
for those nominations. Binoche is fine as the central
female character but outdone by yet another excellent
performance from Judi Dench who revels in her feisty character
who's heart, like warm chocolate, melts to reveal a likeable
human beneath.
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| And
this is what I'll say when I win the Oscar |
Special
mention for Hugh O' Conor, who plays Pere Henri, the young
priest newly arrived in town and replacing one who'd preached
there for fifty years. One particular scene where he dances
to Hound Dog while weeding the garden is great.
Lena
Olin also deserves praise for her portrayal of Josephine
Muscat.
As
for that Oscar nomination for best film. Well it won't
stand a chance against Gladiator, and while it's good,
there just seems to be a certain spark missing.
Pleasant
but just short of satisfying - a bit like eating chocolate
buttons instead of a truffle.
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