Movies from the Heart—Chocolat

The first thing I have to say about Chocolat, [2000] by Robert Nelson Jacobs, is – have some chocolate with you when you watch it! I can’t remember a film that painted such a vivid picture of the food it featured that it made you salivate so much that you’d kill for some chocolate. In the theatre, of course, you’d have to miss part of the film to run to the refreshment counter and buy some chocolate. But as you’ll probably be seeing this film at home on a streaming service or DVD, plan ahead—get the best chocolate you can afford and have it at the ready!

Perhaps I’m overstating it, but this film gives you the thrill of seeing chocolate made and showcased and, trust me, your mouth will water. Personally, I’d choose some good Belgian chocolate—but get your favorite. Even a Snickers bar might do!

Take a look at the trailer for the film.

In some ways, as the film begins, it seems almost comic book in nature. After all, the town is SOOOO ‘moral’ and trying to be incredibly pious that you begin to feel it can’t be real. An entire town couldn’t be that restrictive, could it? And then when the main character, Vienne, comes to the town it seems so mysterious—and she and her daughter both look as if they have just stepped out of 'Little Red Riding Hood' in their shiny red cloaks when they first approach the town. It’s almost surreal.

And the male lead, Roux, is just as mysterious—he arrives on a boat and he’s dressed almost like a pirate—a real contrast to the buttoned-up men in the town. He’s the catalyst for Vienne to open up and experience the sensuality in real life that she infuses into her chocolate.

It’s interesting to look at Chocolat in terms of what’s often called the A story and the B story in film. In this case, the A story is her changing the town by opening up the chocolate shop—and how that shop changes the people in the town as well. And the B story is her romance with Roux—and how it changes her, just as she changed the town.

As you’re writing—no matter what your genre—you should always have an A story and a B story. The A story is usually the main story your film is telling and the B story is one that focuses on some aspect of that story or person involved in the story.

The job of the screenwriter, in this case, is to weave the two stories together so seamlessly that they create the perfect film. You can have C and D stories as well—smaller stories that we follow the progress of throughout the film.

So think about the film you’re writing. What’s the A story? The B story? And do you have smaller moments that could comprise C and D stories?

Well, if you’re done with your chocolate, let’s move on next week to another film set in France, Amélie.

Copyright © Diane Lake

26May24

Email Diane a question to Diane@DianeLake.com