I thought this film was great, admittedly it is a little slow moving but anyone who likes love stories or chocolate is sure to like it. I would definitely recommend this film; it's one of my favourites and a rare film that I can watch again and again without it getting old.

Chocolat is, essentially, a tale of enlightenment, of celebrating difference, and of the importance to challenge preconceptions in all walks of life.

Sounds rather deep, but these are simple concepts, given development and exposition in a simple setting - that of a rural French market town. Into this town the winds of change sweep an umarried, single mother and her daughter - bringing nothing more than free thought and a bag of cocoa beans. A single mother opening a chocolaterie during Lent is enough to outrage the conservative elements of the town, whilst others find great comfort in the pure kind-heartedness and sense of community that the new arrivals inspire.

A superb cast brings this tale to life. Juliette Binoche and Alfred Molina present stark contrasts as the free thinking single mother and pious, self-restrained, sermon-approving noble-come-mayor of the town, respectively. Judi Dench and Johnny Depp, in typically self-assured manner, both deliver supporting roles worthy of recognition here.

I can remember, after seeing this film for the first time, considering the advantages of moving to one such rural French market town. I then realised that sadly, the population there would probably not live up to the wonderfully quirky bunch brought together on this celluloid outing! In short - the film is a delight, from the mesmerising prologue to the skipping French jazz beats that draw this wonderful story to a close.