Unlocking Chocolat
Chocolat, tells the story Vianne Rocher and her six year old daughter
Anouk, who arrive at a village somewhere in France. After arriving at the fictional
village the mother and daughter proceed to open La Celeste Praline, a small yet
distinguished chocolaterie. Vianne's chocolate quickly becomes a hit in the town
and changes the lives of the townspeople dramatically. However, that is only the
surface of an incredibly dynamic film. Therefore, to the fully understand this film
and its many meanings we must analyze it. As a result, the best and most
efficient way to analyze this film is to compare and contrast two characters that
are central to the theme of the film: Comte de Reynaud and Vianne
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And (2) which character is more closely aligned to Jesus'
image of God? Before these characters are compared and questions answered
one cannot say that they fully understand the meaning of the film Chocolat.
In Chocolat, the two characters that are the most diametrically opposed to
each other (throughout the majority of the film) are Vianne Rocher, the owner
of a small yet very distinguished Chocolaterie, and Comte de Reynaud, the
overly pious mayor of their village. Each character is unique. Vianne Rocher is a
woman who wonders from village to village in search of a life she never quite
seems to find, but is always longing for. While on the other hand, Comte de Reynaud is a mayor
intent on keeping spiritual (as well as secular) rule over his town at nearly all
costs. Also very unique to each character is their view of God/reality. On the
one hand, Vianne Rocher does not attend church nor is it related to us that she
believes in Christ; however Vianne is not the least bit afraid of showing her very
loving and compassionate view of reality. Meanwhile, Comte de
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(1) Jesus has a compassionate view of God. (2) It
seeks to disprove the notation that God is judgmental. And (3) God is both
compassionate and gracious. In short, when comparing the image of God we
find in Borg to the image of God we find in Chocolat, it becomes clear that the
belief in a judgmental God is false, and the belief that God is "gracious and
compassionate" (Borg, 83) is the true image of God.
Vianne Rocher, though her religious beliefs are never fully related to us
does portray many, if not all, of the characteristics of Jesus' image of God.
Vianne is gracious. This fact is evident in how she treats everyone equally, even
the ones she dislikes. Vianne is compassionate. She invites everyone into her
home, even the beaten and the outcasts, no questions asked. But most
importantly she does not judge people. In short, Vianne Rocher is the character most
closely aligned with with Jesus' Image of God as gracious and compassionate.
Chocolat is in essence the clash of two diametrically opposed worlds. The
world of the overly pious and depressed Comte de Reynaud, and the world of
Zak, L. (2009, 04). Not all's fair in love of chocolate. Food Magazine, Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/198287549?accountid=12964
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