That's the premise of "Chocolat," a 100-minute, Academy Award-nominated film that will be screened by The Visionary Edge this Saturday evening in Half Moon Bay.
Based on a book by Joanne Harris, directed by Swedish director Lasse Hallstrom with a big-name cast, "Chocolat" combines inspiration, comedy and a mix of ancient pagan magic and contemporary society.
 Vianne (Juliette Binoche) is the spirit behind a wonderful new chocolate shop in "Chocolat," a film to be shown Saturday in Half Moon Bay. |
Vianne quickly becomes the talk of the town as an unwed mother who declines to go to church. The chatter gets worse when she and Anouk open a chocolate shop during Lent, and the good-natured Vianne becomes known for something else: she has a peculiar gift for predicting what sweets best suit each patron. On top of that, her chocolates seem to magically cure patrons of their particular maladies.
Faced with a shop that offers treats that somehow bring out the best in
people, and is a place of
healing and sanctuary for some of the town's troubled residents, the town subtly
begins to change.
Among those changes is the arrival of a band of Gypsies who set up camp at the edge of town, and whose leader, the handsome Roux (Johnny Depp) touches Vianne with his own kind of magic.
"It's an intelligent, romantic and exquisitely filmed fable," said Visionary Edge co-founder Reba Vanderpool. "'Chocolat' is a beautiful and captivating comedy about the power of magic to inspire repressed villagers to abandon themselves to temptation and happiness."
Among the Academy Award nominations the film garnered were Best Picture, Best Actress (Binoche) and Best Supporting Actress (Judi Densch.)
Audiences will get a chance to explore the effects of chocolate for themselves. After the film, Robin Fain, owner of Half Moon Bay chocolate shop Simply Delicious, will discuss the healing powers of chocolate. She'll also have some Simply Delicious tasty confections for sale and tasting.
"Chocolat" will be shown at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24 at the train depot below the Johnston House. Admission to the film is $10 in advance or $15 at the door.
For information, contact the Visionary Edge at 560-0200.
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AT A GLANCE
What: 'Chocolat'
Where: Train depot below the Johnston House, 110 Higgins Purisima Road, Half Moon Bay
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24
Cost: $10/advance; $15/at the door
Information: The Visionary Edge, 560-0200
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