Into Temptation

The Unfairly Tarnished 
"Chocolat"(***)

Sasha Stone
Mirror film critic

   When the Oscar nominations were announced last week there was a noticeable uproar in the press about whether or not Miramax-backed "Chocolat" deserved the Best Picture nomination. Where was "Almost Famous" or "Requiem for a Dream" or "Quills?" The answer seemed to point in one direction: the genius ability of Miramax's marketing department to get its films included in the Best Picture category year after year, even scoring a win a or two -- most famously two years ago when "Shakespeare in Love" toppled DreamWorks' expected winner, "Saving Private Ryan."
   However, the criticism of "Chocolat" couldn't be more off base. Not only is "Chocolat" one of the better nominated films, it's easy to see how Academy members and the public-at-large could have been won over by it. The only other of the five nominees that touches the heart in the same way as "Chocolat" is "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." The other three films, "Gladiator," "Traffic" and "Erin Brockovich" are good films, perhaps even great films, but they don't have the same "life-affirming" feel. 
   Lasse Hallstrom's film version of Joanne Harris' novel examines the effects of divine culinary treats on the human heart. Here, chocolate, as whipped up by Vivanne Rocher (Juliette Binoche), is the sinful pleasure very few allow for themselves. Vivanne has been blessed with the ability to heal bruises in the heart with various delicacies. Be it chili pepper in hot chocolate for the heartsick old woman (Judi Dench), or chocolate sea shells for the widow (Leslie Caron), or a cream-filled treat for the battered wife (Lena Olin, the actress who should have received the Academy's supporting nod). The treats, once the townspeople accept them, have miraculous effects -- imagine that, miracles in a chocolate shop.
   The Mayor of the conservative French village doesn't like Vivanne and her "bastard" daughter Anouk (Victoire Thivisol). He doesn't like that it's Lent and he must resist the urge to indulge in sweets. He wants the evil woman and her sinful chocolates removed forever from his village. But of course, there are those who can't live without Vivanne's special brand of healing, not just the battered wife she saves or the married couple whose sex life she's revived, but those who have yet to indulge -- the prigs who are just about ready to take the plunge but have so far resisted the urge.
Vivanne is herself required to bend to the laws of attraction when the irresistible Roux (Johnny Depp) drifts into town. Roux is given a treat by Vivanne, which she declares must be his favorite. He likes it, but it's not his favorite. We know that eventually Vivanne is going to stumble upon Roux's choice, but we are surprised to learn that one's favorite is often simply the decision to make it so. To that end, Vivanne must learn to eventually stop picking and choosing where to live -- she must eventually decide that her favorite place to be is where she is right now. 
   Why the cloud of suspicion around "Chocolat"? Why is Miramax taking the heat for doing what the big studios do every year? Miramax was also responsible for promoting "All the Pretty Horses" but all the strategy in the world couldn't save that movie from drifting off into oblivion. And Miramax's "Cider House Rules," last year's often-complained-about inclusion as a Best Picture nominee, was actually one of the Academy's more interesting choices, and a deeply moving film.
   So, why not applaud the Academy for including smaller, harder-to-get-made films that aren't about how much money they will make, but about expressing artistic spirit? The Oscars give us much to complain about every year, and the truth is, they can't win for losing. "Chocolat" is simply an example of an entertaining film. Whether or not it's the "best" is debatable. 
   There is room for all kinds of films to be rewarded by the Academy, as this year proves. From the epic to the star vehicle to the experimental to the magical and the exceptional. All of them are on the list because of marketing of one kind or another -- but, again, all the marketing in the world can't save a bad movie. 
   A friend recently admitted that she has a secret method to determine which picture will win the Academy Award each year. She told me that of the five nominated films, the one she chose to see twice because she liked it so much always wins. This year, the only nominated film she has seen twice is "Chocolat." She might even go see it a third time. 
   The truth is, "Chocolat" is like the tasty treats themselves. You can't imagine you could be moved by such simple pleasure -- so much so that you may find yourself embarrassed to admit how much pleasure it brings -- even as you sneak back into the theatre for more.