Chocolate and the Life Well Lived - Embracing Pleasure
Posted: Friday, July 01, 2011
by Jennifer Stewart
Stepping out of History
I saw the film Chocolat again the
other night, what a treat in every way.
It's a classic tale of lust for life in all its beauty and sensuality
fighting draconian, arid morality that poses as deep spirituality and seeks
really to stifle and destroy everything that's good and truly sacred about life
and people.
The story's set in the 50's I think,
in a small rigidly Catholic village whose priest tries awfully hard to be holy
but secretly loves rock music and is really fighting a losing battle within
himself. Still, he – and the townspeople
– are controlled by the resident Count who fiercely represses his own powerful sensuality which terrifies him. He imposes a frigid, acetic, heart and
soul-dessicating discipline on everybody.
Women dress drably and are either slaves to their chauvinistic,
insensitive men or to a punitive, unforgiving God.
The film opens in lent, where the Count's control is all the more severe. A few of the townspeople are in the mood for rebellion but they don't dare. They're ripe to be led into sin, though.
Into this tight-lipped, severely judgmental community drifts a beautiful, sensual free spirit and her equally beautiful daughter. To the horror and outrage of the Count she wears feminine dresses and red shoes - opens up a chocolate shop where sells the most devastatingly seductive chocolate drink and home-made chocolates.
And the war is on. They're persecuted by the Count who tries to force people to shun them so the shop will close down. But the heroine and her daughter embody love, compassion, warmth of heart, body and soul, tolerance, humor, fun, spiritedness – and refusal to be taken down. Gradually, the townspeople find themselves being seduced against their better judgment.
In the end, good triumphs over evil, love wins the day, and even the Count gives in to his own sensuality and desire to live a rich, rewarding life. Blame it on the chocolate. I love movies like this, where petty persecution parading as spirituality and the ugliness of warped spirits and minds which turn people into rabid bullies get shown up for what they are – all sound and noise, signifying absolutely nothing. And where all it takes is one strong soul to stand up against the bullying masses and they're vanquished.
It's a David and Goliath story told sensitively, powerfully, with passion, humor and beauty to feast your eyes on. It lit up my world and the vanquishing of the bullies made me laugh out loud. Now where can I go and find myself some chocolate…
The film opens in lent, where the Count's control is all the more severe. A few of the townspeople are in the mood for rebellion but they don't dare. They're ripe to be led into sin, though.
Into this tight-lipped, severely judgmental community drifts a beautiful, sensual free spirit and her equally beautiful daughter. To the horror and outrage of the Count she wears feminine dresses and red shoes - opens up a chocolate shop where sells the most devastatingly seductive chocolate drink and home-made chocolates.
And the war is on. They're persecuted by the Count who tries to force people to shun them so the shop will close down. But the heroine and her daughter embody love, compassion, warmth of heart, body and soul, tolerance, humor, fun, spiritedness – and refusal to be taken down. Gradually, the townspeople find themselves being seduced against their better judgment.
In the end, good triumphs over evil, love wins the day, and even the Count gives in to his own sensuality and desire to live a rich, rewarding life. Blame it on the chocolate. I love movies like this, where petty persecution parading as spirituality and the ugliness of warped spirits and minds which turn people into rabid bullies get shown up for what they are – all sound and noise, signifying absolutely nothing. And where all it takes is one strong soul to stand up against the bullying masses and they're vanquished.
It's a David and Goliath story told sensitively, powerfully, with passion, humor and beauty to feast your eyes on. It lit up my world and the vanquishing of the bullies made me laugh out loud. Now where can I go and find myself some chocolate…
Listen,
here's what I think.
I think we can't go around...
measuring our goodness by what we don't do.
By what we deny ourselves...
what we resist and who we exclude.
I think we've got to measure goodness...
by what we embrace...
what we create...
and who we include.
(from the priest's sermon)
I think we can't go around...
measuring our goodness by what we don't do.
By what we deny ourselves...
what we resist and who we exclude.
I think we've got to measure goodness...
by what we embrace...
what we create...
and who we include.
(from the priest's sermon)
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Top-level comments on this article: (7 total)Sounds like a good movie JenniferIt's a wonderful movie, David. Thanks for commenting.
Hi Jennifer.
I've only ever caught a small piece of that movie while flipping (Bernd does this and while it may bother me, he sometimes finds interesting stuff that we would have missed otherwise) channels once many years ago. We came into the middle of the movie and it made little sense to either of us and so we did not stay with it.
Now I am wishing that we had seen it from beginning to end.
I love your synopsis and the conclusions you draw from it. And the little piece of the priest's sermon that you quoted is great.
Thanks for this!
Hugs,
DianneThe whole thing is a real treat, from start to finish, Dianne. And I always love stories that stick their tongue out at uber-morality!!
Hey jennifer! A well written review of a a classic movie...Always a pleasurable read...Reagrds, CP
Hi Jennifer. I love this movie. There are some great points made - it shows the sad reality of religious rules of man trying to over power the minds of others, instead of showing grace and love and how this can destroy people. ...Plus Johnny Depp is in it, how could it be a bad movie :-) You are a gripping story teller. hugs, TeresaThanks, Teresa. "..the sad reality..." - you but that beautifully. Amen to Johnny Depp!
I love this film, thank you for writing such a great review.Hi Taylor, I guess you're new to SearchWarp, yes? Welcome! Thanks for commenting, and sorry I've taken so long to reply.
I've heard of this film but had not wanted to see it until I read your piece. Great stuff here, Jennifer!Thanks, Ken, glad you enjoyed it :)
Jennifer your mojo and writing continue to shine from honesty. Your articles have a personal touch. Thanks for always sharing what's in your mind. Cheers.What a really great thing to say, Sid, thanks. I've been overloaded with self-doubt about my writing since being stuck in bed for so long, so you really have made my day. Sorry I've taken so long to reply.
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