Films with a food theme have generally transform the delights of cooking and eating to take us to another level, one beyond the visual to the heart and soul. "Chocolat" can best be appreciated through its child narrator as a fairy tale, albeit for adults. It is darker than "Babette's Feast", less sensual than "Like Water for Chocolate" (largely wasting the Johnny Depp character), less personal than "A Big Night", but thankfully less contrived than "What's Cooking". There are elements of mystery and of improbability that could only be understood in the context of make belief. How else could one understand the 'old tranquility' of a rather pleasant French town that is dominated by one man? How else could one rationalize a wandering woman and child who seek to liberate the suppressed human emotions of straight-laced people all over through the use of Mayan chocolate? Interestingly, the Catholic Church gets pushed around as a mere puppet, a symbol of intolerance and indoctrination for those in power. Those religious virtues of obedience, penitence, and self-denial get no respect either. Story aside, there are some good performances starting with Juliette Binoche who could elevate any film by her mere presence and Lena Olin as the abused fighting back. Judi Dench steals the screen everything she appears while Alfred Molina does a good, 'Father Knows Best' routine. Even Carrie-Ann Moss proves she can do more than just kickbox and the little 'Ponette' (Victoire Thivisol) continues to excel as a child actress. It's too bad the film never develops the love relationship between the older man and woman, (using Leslie Caron in a surprisingly limited and non-speaking role) she grieving for over 40 yrs over the wartime death of her husband. "Chocolat", accepted for being a fable, a French version of "Pleasantville", is a good Saturday afternoon divertissement, similar to going out to taste sweet nothings.
