Chocolat (2000)

One blustery winter's day, Vianne (Julitte Binoche) and her daughter Anouk (Victoire Thivisol) drift into Lansquenet-sous-Tannes, a conservative, provincial, French village that believes, above all else, in tranquility. Or so it would seem. When Vianne opens a chocolate shop just before lent, the allure of delectable treats proves too great a temptation for the townsfolk. But Vianne's chocolate does more than simply taste good. It opens the eyes of the town folk to the possibilities that have been waiting for them all of their lives, it ignites passions, it loosens inhibitions, it breaks down barriers. And Vianne dispenses counsel with her chocolate as well, helping people to see how their lives could be different if they'd only let go of their prejudices. When the summer wind brings a bunch of river Gypsies to the town, things really get going. Vianne falls in love with Roux (Johnny Depp), the leader of the Gypsies. The Mayor (Alfed Molina) vows to rid his town of both the Gypsies and Vianne. Meanwhile, Vianne has taken in Jospehine (Lena Olin), the abused wife of the local tavern owner, Serge (Peter Stormare). The Mayor, having learned of Serge's abuse, attempts to reform him, but to no avail. Serge first attempts to drag Josephine home by force and is beaten senseless by Josphine and Vianne. Then he sets fire to the Gypsies' boats while Josephine is asleep on them. As all of this is taking place, Vianne is busy making chocolate, playing matchmaker, reuniting young Luc (Aurelien Parent Koenig) with his grandmother Armand (Judy Dench), and generally upsetting the oppressive conventionality of the little town.

Lasse Hallström's Chocolat is one of my all-time favorite movies. It ranks right up there with Casablanca in my book. It's one of those films you can watch again and again, and never tire of it. Shot on location in the village of Flavigny-sur-Ozerain in Burgundy and on the Rue De L'ancienne Poste in Beynac-et-Cazenac on the Dordogne River in Dordogne, France, Chocolat is a visual feast, as well as a delightful and heart-warming story. Alfred Molina is perfect as the tyrannical Mayor trying to drive out the irrepressable Vianne, and Peter Stormare portrays the cruel and abusive Serge as such a weak man that we almost feel sorry for him when he gets his just deserts. And Johnny Depp? Well, he plays Johnny Depp, with an attempted Irish accent that he should have left at home. The music, much of it based on tunes by the French Gypsy Django Reinhardt, perfectly captures the feeling of 1950's France, helping to transport us into the the time and the place. And the narration by Tatyana Yassukovich lends a magical, fairy-tale quality to the film, which leaves us believing that, at least for some people, happily ever after might not be an impossible idea.

Chocolat is rated PG-13.

Bee Season (2005)

Portrait of an American family. Mom, Dad, Junior, and Little Sister. Affluent academics, probably liberals, definitely public radio listeners, they live in a beautiful house in a good part of town, drive expensive cars, wear nice clothes. Dad and Junior play string duets in the evening. Junior helps Little Sister with her homework, while Mom and Dad fix dinner. They are the picture of domestic tranquility. Except that this family is hauling around more baggage than a skycap. Saul Nauman (Richard Gere) is a scholar of Cabalism who - having not found God in the written word - is an emotionally distant man with a maniacal sense of self-perfection that extends outward to his family. His wife Miriam (Juliette Binoche), who witnessed the death of her parents when she was young, now breaks into other people's homes and steals useless items in an attempt to "find the light." Son Aaron (Max Minghella) - is undergoing a spiritual crisis and looks for answers in the teachings of Hare Krishna. Daughter Eliza (Flora Cross in a wholly remarkable performance) is a cipher, completely overlooked by her parents until she wins a regional spelling bee. When Eliza's talent for words emerges, Saul forces his attention onto her, providing the catalyst that unravels this delicately woven family. As Eliza advances to the state and national spelling bees, not only do Miriam's and Aaron's secrets come to light, but also - and perhaps more importantly for the whole family - Eliza's sublime ability. Bee Season reminds us that families are conglomerations of individuals, each with his or her own gifts, needs and crises. Directors Scott McGehee and David Siegel show us - with a touch of magical realism - some of those gifts, while resisting the temptation to resolve the crises for us. Bee Season ends on an open note, and we are left hoping that it is a positive one.

Bee Season is rated PG-13.