In one of the opening images, a young black boy is filmed upside down on the beach as the water rushes lightly over his half-submerged body. It is a beautiful picture, and it sets the visual ambience for this lovely semi-autobiographical story from first-time director Claire Denis. Set in Cameroon, Africa, during the waning days of British colonialism, the story revolves around the relationship between a young French girl named France (Cecile Ducasse) and a black house servant named Protee (Isaach De Bankole). Since her father, a district officer, is often called away on business, France spends a lot of time with the playful, yet distanced, Protee. France's mother Aimee (Giulia Cluzet) also is drawn to Protee, albeit for other more adult reasons. The elements are all in place for a Mandingo type soap opera. But Chocolat is anything but. Denis is much more interested in exploring the psychological action and tension generated by the political situations bred from imperialism rather than milking a sensational topic. In this respect, the film is not a series of grand sweeping actions, but rather a collection of tell-tale epiphanies. We see both into and through the eyes of the main characters--and thereby come to understand the complex forces which battle within their hearts. Highly recommended. (R. Pitman)
Chocolat
color. 105 min. In French w/English subtitles. Orion Home Video. (1989). $79.98. Rated: PG-13 Library Journal
Chocolat
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