Chocolat

Question 1

What does Denis shun by making the film?

Answer 1

a fast paced narrative, it instead represents a free flowing ilm from a child’s perspective

Question 2

how do panning a flashbacks help to create?

Answer 2

a level of circularity in the film

Question 3

the beauty lies in…

Answer 3

the power of suggestion which stems from the lack of character dramatisation and little cause and effect relationships

Question 4

example of the presentation of space between proté and Aimée

Answer 4

when the hyenas come she asks proté to stay close, especially as their husband is away

Question 5

how is the young girl comfortable around proté

Answer 5

teaching her the body parts, at the school, carries her on his shoulders

Question 6

an example of the contrast between the dark and light in the film

Answer 6

during the first few scenes of the film we don’t often see the black people out of the dark, if they are it is in a space for public viewing
also when the maid and France are looking out the window

Question 7

What does the maid say about the Englishman and what does this say about her view on colonialism?

Answer 7

‘your englishman is more beautiful when he is dressed’
France replies saying he is not mine
Suggests that the colonised think that the French own everyone but also the fact that Britain tries to hide its secrets

Question 8

what does the Englishman calling for his slave suggest about the english empire/ colonists in general?

Answer 8

that they depend heavily on the natives and their resources to keep them strong and stable
even they, the great powers, can be vulnerable too

Question 9

when the English man leaves what happens between Aimée and Proté?

Answer 9

she senses him, the camera pans to show Aimée in the light

Question 10

What genre was Denis’ film from and what was a main feature?

Answer 10

the heritage genre, it was underpinned by a deep sense of nostalgia

Question 11

What does the domestic sphere allow the director to discuss more?

Answer 11

the hierarchies and relations between characters

Question 12

What does the director encourage by putting a flashback at the centre of the film?

Answer 12

encourages the audience to reflect on the consequences of colonial rule
the two sequences at the start and end allow her to build a bridge

Question 13

When the guests come for dinner how is distance shown between the guests and him?

Answer 13

he is called for from behind the curtains
no attention paid to him when he is pouring the coffee
Proté filmed at a long shot in the corner
Eventhough France shouldn’t be there she is

Question 14

What does the texaco sign show?

Answer 14

exploitation of the colonies, in particular Cameroon

Question 15

what happens at the final scene regarding the artwork

Answer 15

there are pieces of artwork which have been mass produced for the western market

Question 16

What does Mungo say to France in the final scene which echoes the dangers of the colonial world?

Answer 16

go home before you get eaten alive

Question 17

what does the vastness of the landscape at the start suggest about colonisation?

Answer 17

there a is natural vastness to Africa that has been untouched by colonialism

Question 18

Metaphor for the unwanted stay of the colonial rulers

Answer 18

if the rain is early this year then the stranded pilots will be there for 4 more months

Question 19

Euphemism

Answer 19

Aimée asks Proteé to bring her the fruit, but luc come to grab the fruit instead, he says halves to Aimé, could share her

Question 20

What is the role of luc

Answer 20

exposes the sexual tension between Proté and Aimée

Also injects some energy in the film, their response of him is a cold one

Question 21

What does the fight show between Proté and luc?

Answer 21

emphasises the frustration of the natives

lack of words also suggests their rather primitive way of life, but actually white men are just as bad

Question 22

In the bedroom scene what is the significance of the camera shots?

Answer 22

the bed is in view, reinforces the colonial space in the image
the mirror is a reflection of their relationship, they get to see how it looks from other peoples perspective

Question 23

first bit of emotion shown by Proté

Answer 23

when A takes a shower and he sees the water flowing out the bucket

Question 24

what happens when luc arrives?

Answer 24

he arrives in a trailer full of black men, shows the physical imposition of the white man on a black society

Question 25

an image that shows Aimée to be interested in Potré and not what luc has to say

Answer 25

when Potreé brings them lemonade but leaves and as he does Aimée turns to look at him go

Question 26

How is France never where she should be?

Answer 26

In the generator room when she should be in bed

Question 27

Example of early gaze of France

Answer 27

she is looking as the Cameroon men fix the car

and in general functioning as a society post colonisation

Question 28

What is France’s reaction to Aimée picking a knife and what does this show?

Answer 28

She looks shocked, they have been shielded perhaps from the violent colonial side of life. Don’t see the weapons, this can also be seen when they are at the cemetery and Frances asks about the war

Question 29

Example of french colonial heritage imposition

Answer 29

the use of names such as Robespierre

Question 30

Irony example

Answer 30

the only place that Aimée can be alone is when she is in the shower, it is ironic because Protée can never be alone, not even in the moments where he is naked in the shower

Question 31

How does France treat Protée?

Answer 31

Well in general and they clearly get on well, however she is disgusted when he eats the ant- she is really just saying that their culture disgusts her- an example of all whites failure to try to understand the black culture- luc should be commended for trying to integrate into society there, even he has no success, so either way colonialism was doomed

Question 32

How do white people see blacks, as convenience?

Answer 32

When delpich tries to get a ride away it shows how they see the colonised as purely convenient.

Question 33

wha is a central question behind chocolat?

Answer 33

is desire always informed by the colonial sphere?

can you hide anything in the colonial world?

Question 34

what is evidence of mans attitude towards trying to assert himself?

Answer 34

the man says he will have the road widened- the film thus reminds us of the absurd nature of the white thinking