The movie Chocolat has something for everyone.
Even if charming French villages aren’t your thing, and the sight of Juliette Binoche as chocolatier Vianne whipping up her heavenly concoctions doesn’t thrill you, there’s always Johnny Depp to look at!
It’s 1959 in a small village in the South of France when Vianne and her daughter Anouk arrive in their bright red capes and start stirring things up.
Let’s take a look back at the movie, the village, and the sets that were designed for it.
The Filming Locations for “Chocolat”
In the DVD Special Features there’s an interview with the production designer who explains that they filmed the exterior shots in Flavigny, a stone-walled French village from the 10th city.
The cemetery that overlooks the town was created for the film, and because there is no river in the area, they shot the water scenes separately, in England.
The statue of ‘Comte Reynaud’ was made out of plastic (!) for the film.
Vianne buys the old patisserie in the town square for her new chocolate shop.
The fact that she does so during Lent, when most villagers have given up sweets, doesn’t go over well.
The Comte de Reynaud (Alfred Molina), especially, takes umbrage.
Undeterred by the town’s chilly reception, Vianne sets to work on the shop,
painting everything turquoise and hanging a new sign out front.
This hot chocolate she makes looks like hot fudge. You’d have to eat it with a spoon!
Binoche was trained at a real chocolate shop in Paris so she would know what she was doing.
Seems like a good skill to have in life!
Working in the kitchen with her new friend and coworker (Lena Olin):
Johnny Depp played the Irish “River Rat” Roux:
When Roux comes to town, Vianne is the only shopkeeper who will serve him.
He shows his appreciation for her friendship by fixing her front door:
Vianne throws a party in the backyard for her landlady Armande’s birthday (Judi Dench):
These scenes were reportedly shot at a small rural farm in Somerset, England.
I read that Judi Dench was unable to travel to France at the time because her husband was very ill.
The exteriors for the village, shop, church, and mayor’s home were
filmed in Flavigny-sur-Ozerain, Côte-d’Or, France (IMDb.com).
The river scenes, however, were filmed in England at Fonthill Lake in Wiltshire.
Visit my Houses Onscreen page to see the others I’ve featured, listed from A-Z.
Oh the transformation of their shop is just too much…oh to have the money to create something so beautiful! France is just such an amazing place with such history!
I will have to check out the movie..I has always wanted to watch it …now I have to 🙂
Janet
Janet Doherty’s last blog post..Mother’s Day Cheer
Hi Julia.
Did you see the movie “I love you man?”
They have a little on going joke about this movie.
Chocolat really was a wonderful sensual adventure.
I enjoyed your take on it!
xo
Brooke
velvet and linen’s last blog post..mom
Again, yet another movie I need to own. I think I need to start making a list :). I don’t know how you keep track of all these fab movies.
I hope you had a great Mother’s Day!
AnNicole@OurSuburbanCottage’s last blog post..Happy Mother’s Day!
May I make a suggestion, not an easy movie for sure: “Blow Up.” It’s not just about style, but it’s all about style – mod London in the mid sixties. I haven’t been able to get “the look” of the movie out of my head since I first saw it about 1970. It’s also a look at live-work loft living 40 years ago.
Terry Kearns’s last blog post..Mary Mac’s – Barometer of Intown Health?
Julia,
It’s Mother’s Day and I’m doing all the things I love to do, but haven’t had time for lately. First, I painted our hallway leading upstairs (with Alan’s help). We used Sherwin Williams, Whole Wheat. We finished that, with the exception of the hand rail, which I think we are going to have to replace. The second thing I wanted to to do was catch up on your blog. I must admit it feels like home. And, Happy Belated Birthday. I knew it was coming and then everything got crazy with Alan’s mom. I think I’ll rent Chocolat. It looks like my kind of movie. Andrea
Hi Julia!
Kim and I loved this movie and now we need to see it again! You can’t beat an old stone-walled European village for a setting! Thanks for the post. Looks like a ton of work! Have a great week!
Tim
Remodeling Guy’s last blog post..Thirty Days To Your Inner Carpenter
Oh I love this movie! Love, love, love! It has nothing to do with the fact that I have been in “lurve” with Johnny Depp since I was about 16 (I swear). It’s a really well done movie and has lots of eye candy (pun totally intended). I’m going to have to find out where the real village is and make a trip there. If I do, I’ll send you photos. Every time I watch this movie I MUST eat chocolate. Have you ever had a chocolate sandwich? OMG, you MUST! You need a good crusty baguette (soft bread will NOT be the same) and a good chocolate bar. Hershey’s will work if you like milk chocolate (and I think it’s okay with Hershey’s), but I prefer a good quality dark chocolate bar. You don’t want a thick bar. Cut about a 4 inch piece of the baguette, then slice it open (like you would for a sandwich) and toast it lightly (LIGHTLY) under the broiler. Place the chocolate between the two pieces of bread while they’re still warm to melt it a little, and enjoy. I first had this in Paris and was blown away. Now it is a decadent snack to have while watching Johnny Depp….I mean Chocolat.
Mom in High Heels’s last blog post..Lightening my load. Or What on earth have I done?
I love the doors in the backyard party scene. I think I like any doors that’s are unusual. Maybe I should have a door blog…I love them all!
~Kim
Kim @ Everything Etsy’s last blog post..Supplier Spotlight – Down Shadow Lane {Fabric Giveaway!}
Yet another movie I need to own. I think I need to start making a list :). I don’t know how you keep track of all these fab movies.
I hope you had a great Mother’s Day!
AnNicole@OurSuburbanCottage’s last blog post..I Love Me Some Ticking Stripes
Wow you went all out today, lots of pics…..I’ll have to rent this one, I’ve never seen it.
Thanks for sharing, just how I imagine the country side to look like.
Suzy’s last blog post..News Flash….This just in!
I’d forgotten about this movie. I *love* it. Thanks for posting!
Slowish Food’s last blog post..Whoo-hoo! Guess Who’s One Year Old?
I’m always amazed at our (apparently) similar taste in movies! Beautiful job!
Leslie’s last blog post..Dearly loved…
LOVED this movie… I posted about it and painted these… https://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24899937… I think I may have to watch it again this week while I am stuck off my feet… le sigh!
Can’t wait to find out who the winner is tomorrow! I will post about it too!
FUN!!!
Fifi
Fifi Flowers’s last blog post..A little Relapse… going to my Happy place…
What beautiful pictures! And I can’t wait to try Mom in High Heels’ chocolate sandwich! Sounds a bit like pain au chocolat but with normal bread and therefore less greasy. Yum!
The follow-up book to Chocolat, The Girl With No Shadow, is set in Paris and would make a wonderful movie with some opportunities for lovely sets.
Struggler’s last blog post..Struggling with the $20 challenge
Love this movie! It’s one of the few that I own on dvd. It’s so neat how dark and dreary the town is, and how vibrant her chocolate shop is. Great pictures!!
~angela
Angela’s last blog post..Monday Memories: Grand Canyon
Oh thank you so much. For this installment of ‘Movie Monday’ and for all of them. What a glorious gift to we house/set/etc. lovers.
How do you do this?!? Get these photos? Or screen captures or whatever? Amazing!
Gentle hugs,
‘Aunt Amelia’
Dear you,
.
Aunt Amelia’s Attic
Aunt Amelia’s last blog post..A Monday in May…
Aunt Amelia–
I watch the movie on my computer and snap photos of it as I go. Then I try to narrow them down to the best ones, which is always hard for me because I want to show everything. 🙂
Glad you enjoy it! -Julia
I am thinking we must be kindred spirits. This movie is one i own and love watching… yum is all i can say. (over Johnny Depp) 🙂
When the mayor gets hysterical, I am always amazed at how people can be so intimidated, especially when they know in their hearts they are so, so very wrong.
Can wait for Mondays…always a favorite for sure!
Claudia@DipityRoad’s last blog post..Finding Inspiration
What a great movie to show. I didn’t remember how great that backyard dinner scene was.
from the right bank’s last blog post..My Real Life Desk
I wasn’t quite as bowled over by this movie as were some. You know I’m a little different. 😉
I love the exteriors, though.
10th century France? WOW. As an American, it really amazes me how those buildings are still standing. Even in our large cities, we have a tendency to bulldoze everything and start from scratch.
This may be the very first time I realized that Johnny Depp actually had costars in this movie…
Sher Miller’s last blog post..HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
Thank You…Chocolat is one of my all time movie favourites. I especially loved Juliette shoes in this…and of course the gorgeous Johnny Depp?
Dzintra Ingrid’s last blog post..Mother’s Day 09…
Fabulous post, Chocolat is one of my favourite movies – infact it was this movie that inspired me to come and live in France:-)
Leeann’s last blog post..Rain, rain go away
Julia, I have a suggestion for Movie Mondays. it is the house of “Death at a Funeral” an English movie of the director Frank Oz, that house is incredible.
Have you see it?
Thank you
I <3 this movie and this house 🙂
Johnny Depp was NEVER hotter.
.-= Juju at Tales of Whimsy.com´s last blog ..Contest- Superhero Needed =-.
I’m new to your blog, and blogs in general really, but I love yours! The houses you show here are absolutely gorgeous and you do such a good job researching the little known facts, too. The practical magic house, along with this entire page, have quickly become my favorites. You now have a new fan!
-Em.
I had to laugh at the comment above about “I Love You, Man”–it IS a funny, running gag about Paul Rudd going on about “Chocolat” to his new pal, a total “guy’s guy”, Jason Segel, who thinks it’s pathetic that Rudd’s character, Peter, would say that his fondest memory is “eating summer salad with [his girlfriend] and watching Chocolat with Johnny Depp”. If you haven’t seen this “bromance”, I highly recommend it, as well as the extended discussion about “Chocolat” in the DVD extras!
I remember those scenes–hilarious!