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.

Enchanted April (1992)

Mike Newell's Enchanted April, adapted from the novel by Elizabeth von Arnim, is one of those rare gems of a movie that come along every now and then and sail right under the radar. I'm always amazed at how many people have never heard of this film. Everything about this movie is perfect, from the cast to the stunning scenery that forms the backdrop of the the action. The only complaint I ever had with this film was that it took so long to bring it out on DVD. The movie originally came out in '92, but it wasn't released on DVD until just last year.

The story starts on a rainy London day in the years right after WWI. Two women, Lottie Wilkins (Josie Lawrence) and Rose Arbuthnot (Miranda Richardson) are fed up with the day to day humdrum of their middle-class lives and decide to spend April in an Italian villa, which they rent from George Briggs (Michael Kitchen). Because they don't have a lot of money, they advertise for two companions to join them and share the expense. Their ad is answered by Mrs. Fisher (Joan Plowright), and aging dowager, and Lady Caroline Dester (Polly Walker), a disillusioned young socialite. Lottie's husband Mellersh (Alfred Molina) - a family lawyer - is outraged that his wife would want to go on a vacation without him; Rose's husband Frederick (Jim Broadbent) - a writer of scandalous romances - thinks it's a great idea. Once the four women arrive at San Salvatore, the villa begins to work its magic upon them. You see them unfold beneath the hot Mediterranean sun, melt into the exquisite landscape. Their guards come down. So do their pretenses and facades. Lottie invites Mellersh to come and join her. She knows that the villa will change him too. It does. Then Rose invites Frederick. He arrives - having not received her letter - looking for Caroline, who he has a passion for. The villa's magic takes care of that as well. By the end, all are friends, including Mr. Briggs who came to see how things were going and was invited to stay on.

Enchanted April is not a loud or a fast paced movie. There aren't any chase scenes or gun fights or explosions in it. There are no CGI effects to wow the audience. You won't see any nudity or sex or even hear any profanity. What you will get, instead, is a truly wonderful story - one could say magical - set against some of the most enchanting scenery in the whole world. The musical score is lovely and relaxing, and the cinematography takes full advantage of the breathtaking Italian coast. Some would call Enchanted April a chick-flick. I disagree. It is a movie for anyone who is tired of rushing around and multi-tasking and just wants to enjoy a film that unfolds itself gradually, carefully, until it arrives at a totally satisfying conclusion.

Enchanted April is rated PG.