Captain Corelli's Mandolin/Chocolat DVD

Captain Corelli's Mandolin (Dir. John Madden) (2001): In keeping with Hollywood's time-honored tradition of turning celebrated novels into cinematic spectacles director John Madden brings Louis de Berniere's acclaimed 1994 work 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin' to life. Set on the Greek island of Cephalonia in 1940 the film tells the story of the beautiful Pelagia (Penelope Cruz) who lives with her father Dr. Iannis (John Hurt) and is engaged to local fisherman Mandras (Christian Bale). When Mandras leaves the island to fight for his country against the approaching... German army Pelagia is left behind to worry and wait for a letter which never arrives. In the meantime the Italian army occupies Cephalonia and Pelagia and Dr. Iannis receive a new visitor into their home. Captain Antonio Corelli (Nicolas Cage) a romantic opera lover with a passion for playing the mandolin annoys Pelagia with his free-spirited personality but it is this charm that eventually wins her heart. Soon the two are head-over-heels in love only for Mandras to return... Chocolat (Dir. Lasse Hallstrom) (2001): Nominated for five Academy Awards including Best Picture Best Actress (Juliet Binoche) and Best Supporting Actress (Judi Dench) 'Chocolat' is the beautiful and captivating comedy from the acclaimed director of 'The Cider House Rules'. Nobody could have imagined the impact that the striking Vianne (Binoche) would make when she arrived in a tranquil old-fashioned French town. In her very unusual chocolate shop Vianne begins to create mouth-watering confections that almost magically inspire the straight-laced villagers to abandon themselves to temptation and happiness. But it is not until another stranger the handsome Roux (Johnny Depp) arrives in town that Vianne is finally able to recognise her own desires. [show more]

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