Chocolat (2000)

REVIEW
A sweet confection whose ingredients of romantic lyricism and magical culinary delights provide a tasty compliment to a trifling story of social oppression, Chocolat is a lightweight fable that charms through sheer determination. The alluring Binoche is Vianne, a single mother and chef who arrives at a small French village with her young daughter. Opening a chocolate shop featuring a selection of mouth-watering creations, Vianne soon becomes embroiled in the town's political bureaucracy when she stands up to the petty-minded mayor (Molina) who wants the free-spirited entrepreneur run out of town. Binoche is captivating as the winsome Vianne, who slowly wins over many of the townspeople. These include Dench as a curmudgeon who finds her heart, Olin as an abused wife who finds the strength to leave her husband, and Depp as a handsome gypsy who finds Vianne irresistible. Like the delicious concoctions that Vianne prepares, Chocolat is sure to please -- just don't expect anything too filling.