Directors Use of Techniques in "Chocolat"
How does the director use various techniques to contrast the control of the Comte and the effect of Vianne’s influence on the town?
Individuality versus conformity is a fine line that people in society walk along. This has been shown in Chocolat, released in 2000 and directed by Lasse Hallstrom. Where Vianne and her chocolate shop represent individuality and the Comte represents conformity. Hallstrom uses various film and dramatic techniques to convey this idea to the audience. In Chocolat, the Comte has a big influence on how the townspeople feel and what they feel they should be doing. This means that the Comte is the pinnacle of control in the town and he feels that everyone should conform to the long standing traditions. The Comtes’ control over the town is quite strong as shown in the opening scene, where all of the townspeople are shown to be conforming to each other. In this scene the costumes of the townspeople are all dark colours and similar as including the Comte. This shows that the townspeople are conforming all the time, even in what they are wearing. There is a voice over narration in the first part of the opening scene and this line; “If you lived in this town you knew what was expected of you”, shows how controlling the Comte is and that the townspeople did not want to break conformity. There is a camera shot in this scene that is from
Anouks point of view looking up at the Comte. This shows his powerful figure and his control over the townspeople. These techniques show that Comte is a very controlling figure and he likes to impose his feelings and thoughts on to the townspeople.
Viannes presence in the town has the opposite effect to that of the
Comte. Vianne is a very individual person and this starts to rub off on to the townspeople. She has her own way of doing things, for example not attending church, which is against the values that the
Comte has instilled in the townspeople. Viannes individuality is shown
Individuality versus conformity is a fine line that people in society walk along. This has been shown in Chocolat, released in 2000 and directed by Lasse Hallstrom. Where Vianne and her chocolate shop represent individuality and the Comte represents conformity. Hallstrom uses various film and dramatic techniques to convey this idea to the audience. In Chocolat, the Comte has a big influence on how the townspeople feel and what they feel they should be doing. This means that the Comte is the pinnacle of control in the town and he feels that everyone should conform to the long standing traditions. The Comtes’ control over the town is quite strong as shown in the opening scene, where all of the townspeople are shown to be conforming to each other. In this scene the costumes of the townspeople are all dark colours and similar as including the Comte. This shows that the townspeople are conforming all the time, even in what they are wearing. There is a voice over narration in the first part of the opening scene and this line; “If you lived in this town you knew what was expected of you”, shows how controlling the Comte is and that the townspeople did not want to break conformity. There is a camera shot in this scene that is from
Anouks point of view looking up at the Comte. This shows his powerful figure and his control over the townspeople. These techniques show that Comte is a very controlling figure and he likes to impose his feelings and thoughts on to the townspeople.
Viannes presence in the town has the opposite effect to that of the
Comte. Vianne is a very individual person and this starts to rub off on to the townspeople. She has her own way of doing things, for example not attending church, which is against the values that the
Comte has instilled in the townspeople. Viannes individuality is shown