CINEMA COFFEE:
"La Chocolaterie"
#ForMyMom
During these "in between" months when it still feels very much like Summer with temperatures coming in close to 100 degrees (where I am, even TODAY!), and yet you see people talking about the first day of Fall -- (in my Schatze HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE voice)"Fall? Who he?" Yep. Don't know as if I've ever met him before ... in creep films into the category seen just as much as a Summer watch, Winter watch, or in between; Fall or Spring. An all around film to mesh your climate no matter the Season, weather, occasion, region, or reason to watch. What a good film should be. Timeless. Ageless. Cinema.
And no other film paired with Coffee, however you take it, goes better than a dramatic film, made with romance, life and sparks of laughter inside a small Parisian town drifting inside and about a Chocolaterie. And for my Mom and I, CHOCOLAT (2000) starring Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp was such a film.
|
Based on the novel of the same name by Joanne Harris, CHOCOLAT is set in 1959 Europe. Though you do get a sense it is the 1950's while watching the film, it certainly takes you away at once, all in one piece. It could easily have been a period piece of the 1930's, 40's, or even a more modern age, like today ... Timeless.
The first time my Mom and I watched this film, being Johnny Depp fans since EDWARD SCISSORHANDS, we instantly became attracted in the storyline itself. A woman, Anouk, retelling her accounts in V.O. (voice over) about her childhood with her Mother, Vianne (acted by Juliette Binoche), growing up in a bit of an eccentric, gypsy-esque manner, much to the style of her Mother's latter encounter with Roux, acted by Johnny Depp, albeit between she and her Mother, in a more spiritual, traditional way. |
The story carries you through Vianne's tradition to drift from place to place when the wind calls, through a brief tale, as it was passed down from her Mother, and her Mother's Mother before that, and so on the spirits have guided them from generation to generations past.
Much more to the story than that, is the people who live in the town. All whom you grow to know and meet as the story carries you away. Some you like, some you hope to like before the story's end, and some, you just don't. No matter how far in the story line you reach. While you meet everyone in the town, you run across a lot of people you recognize. Actor wise. Whether you're a European Film Fan, American/Canadian Film Fan, or (hopefully) an International Film Fan, there is someone in the cast you know. Most notably, Dame Judi Dench (a favorite 'M' ... James Bond, we're lookin' at you), who acts as Armande Voizion, the owner whom leases out the building to Vianne's character, as well as the Mother to another familiar face in the cast, Carrie-Anne Moss (at the time, fresh following THE MATRIX release in 1999), who share a Mother and Daughter relationship though estranged, underneath, the two care very much of one another, only can not show so. The Mayor of the town, acted by Alfred Molina as Comte de Reynaud, Lena Olin as Josephine, troubled, with reason and hope; her husband and café owner, Serge acted by Peter Stormare, and many others that include the young priest, Hugh O'Conor, the late John Wood, and for me, Ron Cook, whom after revisiting CHOCOLAT, I can now only see as 'Mr. Crabb' from PBS' Mr. Selfridge, every time I see him. Every time.
Much more to the story than that, is the people who live in the town. All whom you grow to know and meet as the story carries you away. Some you like, some you hope to like before the story's end, and some, you just don't. No matter how far in the story line you reach. While you meet everyone in the town, you run across a lot of people you recognize. Actor wise. Whether you're a European Film Fan, American/Canadian Film Fan, or (hopefully) an International Film Fan, there is someone in the cast you know. Most notably, Dame Judi Dench (a favorite 'M' ... James Bond, we're lookin' at you), who acts as Armande Voizion, the owner whom leases out the building to Vianne's character, as well as the Mother to another familiar face in the cast, Carrie-Anne Moss (at the time, fresh following THE MATRIX release in 1999), who share a Mother and Daughter relationship though estranged, underneath, the two care very much of one another, only can not show so. The Mayor of the town, acted by Alfred Molina as Comte de Reynaud, Lena Olin as Josephine, troubled, with reason and hope; her husband and café owner, Serge acted by Peter Stormare, and many others that include the young priest, Hugh O'Conor, the late John Wood, and for me, Ron Cook, whom after revisiting CHOCOLAT, I can now only see as 'Mr. Crabb' from PBS' Mr. Selfridge, every time I see him. Every time.
But for those who are Classic Film Fans who have seen CHOCOLAT may think I've left out a very important Cast member. I have not. I have saved the unveiling, justifiably so ... alas, our "Fanny" (as my Mom would forever call her after I introduced my Mom to the 1961 film), Leslie Caron ... "What do you have to say to that, César?" (I'd say, FANNY will be spending some time at my COFFEE CINEMA House in the near future).
At the time of watching CHOCOLAT, I was fully, well aware of AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, and how! I mean, Gene Kelly, how can you not? Puh-lease! And the more I think about it, I was doing a little binge watching (before binge watching became "a thing") of AAIP during those days when I first saw CHOCOLAT, and yet, did NOT realize I was looking at 'Fanny' herself until a few years later. When it came to my attention while doing some Classic Film reading, the shock hit as well did the DVD into the player, and in my Seagull voice from THE LITTLE MERMAID, "We're out to discover!" Immediately was this followed by announcement to my Mom. It made watching CHOCOLAT again that much more charming ... Ageless.
|
|
Circling back to my brother from another Mother (as by now, most everyone has heard me call him ... it was our nickname for Johnny Depp), who does make an appearance in the film about ... No, no. If you haven't seen it, I won't spoil the anticipation for you. Because it wasn't spoiled for us. I want this to be an enjoyable watch with a few surprises to discover on your own. But I will say, once Johnny does appear, you have already settled in warm and tight to your coffee mug with a smile on your face, which only grows warmer and deeper once he arrives.
This was one of our (my Mom and I) favorite Johnny Depp films, and we've seen them all (up to TRANSCENDENCE), and I have tried to keep on watching his films since, #ForMyMom. But I won't lie, it's not easy for me to do anymore without my Mom, so I take my time, and watch as time goes by to catch up (we were so geared up and ready to go for ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS). But not to turn downward in my thoughts on the subject, I'll turn the other direction and say, for me, this was a favorite performance of mine from him, because you see that with or without a costume, make-up, or props, he can act. He can sell to you his character believably. He is, in this film, for this moment, captivating as Roux.
There is a look he gives Juliette (Vianne) while the two are in a boat, that leaves you undone. Very simple. But very honest.
Personally, part of the reason we called him my brother from another Mother, aside from being born in Kentucky too, was because I never saw Johnny Depp in a film-crush-like manner. He was good looking, sure, but for me, in a "that's my brother" sortofaway ... does that make sense? I fell more in love with his style of acting than I did his looks so early on, I could never see him any other way. Just ... like a brother. Yet, even my heart melts the way he looks at Vianne whenever he sees her -- no, he doesn't merrily see her, he watches her. The way he dances with her, focuses on her. The way every girl and every woman would want to be looked at. Individually you. Who you are. As is. The same manner in which this film sets out. Individually ... Cinema.
Personally, part of the reason we called him my brother from another Mother, aside from being born in Kentucky too, was because I never saw Johnny Depp in a film-crush-like manner. He was good looking, sure, but for me, in a "that's my brother" sortofaway ... does that make sense? I fell more in love with his style of acting than I did his looks so early on, I could never see him any other way. Just ... like a brother. Yet, even my heart melts the way he looks at Vianne whenever he sees her -- no, he doesn't merrily see her, he watches her. The way he dances with her, focuses on her. The way every girl and every woman would want to be looked at. Individually you. Who you are. As is. The same manner in which this film sets out. Individually ... Cinema.
I won't keep you any longer, as Cinema and my Mom are two subjects I could talk about at such length, I'm afraid my already fast typing fingers couldn't even keep up with. I'm that passionate and feel that strongly about them both. They are tied together. Which sort of brings me to a funny story I'll leave you with before I close. Being an aspiring film maker/actress, I am forever writing scripts. Be it for a short that I can do, for a Theatrical Production upcoming, or for that Feature Film I one day hope to make, and want to be prepared, script ready to go. Deep rooted in the zone I would get when typing; headphones on, TCM or my favorite Classic Film, Musical or Film playing in the background, I could not hear my fingers on the keys. Note, I have natural nails, natural long nails (that I get from my Mom), to the point I'm always asked while out, "Are those your nails? How do you work with those?" ... Easily, I could not, and can not work without them. As low as they've broken or I've cut them, it throws everything off balance. Including, you guessed it, typing. Whenever I'd take a break and get up to walk away from my script, there were many times my Mom would say, you were in there just *clacking* away. I could hear you all the way out here! My point? If I'm that way on typing out a subject I'm passionate about, you can imagine how I get when speaking it out loud ... brother beware.
I'll leave you with your choice of Coffee, Latte, Macchiato, Espresso or Café (for my Mom and I, it was always Cappuccino (my Dad can vouch for that)) during your CINEMA COFFEE watch with a side of CHOCOLAT ... #ForMyMom.
For my other CINEMA COFFEE blog pieces:
#ForMyMom Cinema Coffee ... | COFFEE CINEMA: Talking Streetcar | CINEMA COFFEE: "Et tu, Brute?" | CINEMA COFFEE: "La Chocolaterie" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Milk? I loathe milk!" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Elderberry Wine ..." | CINEMA COFFEE: "The choice I never had ..." | CINEMA COFFEE: "The smell of Mimosa" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Mighty like a Rose" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Don't cry on the rolls" | CINEMA COFFEE: "You're the first Kansas I ever met" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Everybody calls me Gracie" | CINEMA COFFEE: "What the devil are Belinskis?!" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Hello friends and enemies." | CINEMA COFFEE: "Stop remindin' me of heaven." | CINEMA COFFEE: "Even Gatsby could happen" | CINEMA COFFEE: "I made a wish" | CINEMA COFFEE: Audie Murphy | CINEMA COFFEE: Put the Blame on Mame | CINEMA COFFEE: "Just Singleton." | CINEMA COFFEE: "Where I Come From, Nobody Knows" | Film Therapy: Coping through Cinema | CINEMA COFFEE: Socks fall down | CINEMA COFFEE: "The moon's reaching for me" | CINEMA COFFEE: The Horne: Luso World Cinema Blogathon | CINEMA COFFEE: Aunt Bettye Lightsy | CINEMA COFFEE: I never lose | CINEMA COFFEE: "I have a mother!" | CINEMA COFFEE: THE SIGN OF GEMINI | CINEMA COFFEE: Venus Rising | CINEMA COFFEE: Stan vs Geek | CINEMA COFFEE: "Positively the same dame" | CINEMA COFFEE: I would rather lose ma whip than lose ma Daisy! | CINEMA COFFEE: "D'ENTRE LES MORTS goes VERTIGO" | CINEMA COFFEE: Christmas with Gina Lollobrigida | CINEMA COFFEE: INTRODUCING DOROTHY DANDRIDGE . . . The Actress | CINEMA COFFEE: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST book-to-screen | CINEMA COFFEE: La Baker Way! | CINEMA COFFEE: The Sun Hides Many Things . . . ISLAND IN THE SUN (1957) | CINEMA COFFEE: Feeling Venice . . . SUMMERTIME (1955)
#ForMyMom Cinema Coffee ... | COFFEE CINEMA: Talking Streetcar | CINEMA COFFEE: "Et tu, Brute?" | CINEMA COFFEE: "La Chocolaterie" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Milk? I loathe milk!" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Elderberry Wine ..." | CINEMA COFFEE: "The choice I never had ..." | CINEMA COFFEE: "The smell of Mimosa" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Mighty like a Rose" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Don't cry on the rolls" | CINEMA COFFEE: "You're the first Kansas I ever met" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Everybody calls me Gracie" | CINEMA COFFEE: "What the devil are Belinskis?!" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Hello friends and enemies." | CINEMA COFFEE: "Stop remindin' me of heaven." | CINEMA COFFEE: "Even Gatsby could happen" | CINEMA COFFEE: "I made a wish" | CINEMA COFFEE: Audie Murphy | CINEMA COFFEE: Put the Blame on Mame | CINEMA COFFEE: "Just Singleton." | CINEMA COFFEE: "Where I Come From, Nobody Knows" | Film Therapy: Coping through Cinema | CINEMA COFFEE: Socks fall down | CINEMA COFFEE: "The moon's reaching for me" | CINEMA COFFEE: The Horne: Luso World Cinema Blogathon | CINEMA COFFEE: Aunt Bettye Lightsy | CINEMA COFFEE: I never lose | CINEMA COFFEE: "I have a mother!" | CINEMA COFFEE: THE SIGN OF GEMINI | CINEMA COFFEE: Venus Rising | CINEMA COFFEE: Stan vs Geek | CINEMA COFFEE: "Positively the same dame" | CINEMA COFFEE: I would rather lose ma whip than lose ma Daisy! | CINEMA COFFEE: "D'ENTRE LES MORTS goes VERTIGO" | CINEMA COFFEE: Christmas with Gina Lollobrigida | CINEMA COFFEE: INTRODUCING DOROTHY DANDRIDGE . . . The Actress | CINEMA COFFEE: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST book-to-screen | CINEMA COFFEE: La Baker Way! | CINEMA COFFEE: The Sun Hides Many Things . . . ISLAND IN THE SUN (1957) | CINEMA COFFEE: Feeling Venice . . . SUMMERTIME (1955)
