Chocolat (2016 film)

Chocolat
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Roschdy Zem
Produced by Éric Altmayer
Nicolas Altmayer
Written by Roschdy Zem
Cyril Gely
Olivier Gorce
Gérard Noiriel
Based on Chocolat, clown nègre. L'histoire oubliée du premier artiste noir de la scène française
by Gérard Noiriel
Starring Omar Sy
James Thiérrée
Music by Gabriel Yared
Cinematography Thomas Letellier
Edited by Monica Coleman
Production
company
Distributed by Gaumont
Release date
  • 3 February 2016 (2016-02-03)
Running time
 110 minutes
Country France
Language French
Budget $18.5 million[1]
Box office $14.9 million[2]

Chocolat is a 2016 French drama film directed by Roschdy Zem and starring Omar Sy and James Thiérrée.

Synopsis

The clown Chocolat (Omar Sy) becomes, in 1886, the first black artist of the French scene.

Plot

In 1897, a black man named Kananga, the son of former slave Cuba, plays a small role in the modest circus Delvaux. George Foottit, a white clown, is asked by the director to bring up their numbers. He gets the idea to have an act with Kananga; a white authoritative clown and a black scapegoat named Chocolat.

They are well received and the word spreads through France, reaching Joseph Oller, director of the Nouveau Cirque. He asks Foottit and Chocolat to take their show to his Parisian establishment. The success is immediate, and Chocolat becomes the first famous black clown. The success stirs envy in his previous employer's wife. She denounces him for being in France illegally.

Chocolat is arrested and tortured by the police. "A negro always remains a negro," the police commander tells Chocolat when he releases him. While the humiliation in the circus act is staged for humorous effect, the racism Chocolat encounters in France grinds him down. Chocolat is both celebrated as a star and made into a racial caricature. This becomes strikingly apparent when the poster for the show depicts Chocolat with the face of an ape. Faced with the hypocrisy of French society, he gives himself up to gambling and women. At the end of his life, Chocolat falls into obscurity and dies of illness.

Historical accuracy

The film is only loosely based on the real life of Rafael Padilla,[3] son of a slave from Cuba, a Spanish colony at the time.

Reception

Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 100% of critics gave the film a positive review.[4]

Cast

Premios

Premio / Pelicula Festival Categoria Reconocidos y nominaciones Resultados
Premios César Mejor Actor Omar Sy Nominated
Mejor Actor Secundario James Thiérrée Nominated
Mejor Sonido Brigitte Taillandier, Vincent Guillon and Stéphane Thiébaut Nominated
Mejor Música Original Gabriel Yared Nominated
Mejor Diseño de Producción Jérémie D. Lignol Won
Premios Globos de Cristal Mejor Pelicula Won
Mejor Actor Omar Sy Won
Premios Lumières Mejor Actor Omar Sy Nominated
James Thiérrée Nominated

References

  1. ↑ "Chocolat (2016)". JP's Box-Office.
  2. ↑ "Chocolat". Box Office Mojo.
  3. ↑ Michel, Nicolas (29 January 2015). "Cinéma : ce qui est vrai, ce qui est faux dans « Chocolat », le film de Roschdy Zem" (in French).
  4. ↑ "Chocolat". Rotten Tomatoes.
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