CHOCOLAT

Claire Denis

France/Germany/Cameroon 105 min Fiction

Synopsis

A young French woman returns to the vast silence of West Africa to contemplate her childhood days in a colonial outpost in Cameroon. Her strongest memories are of the family’s houseboy, Protee – a man of great nobility, intelligence and beauty – and the intricate nature of relationships in a racist society.

Filmmaker

Claire Denis

She is one of the most important filmmakers on the contemporary film scene. She grew up in Africa, an experience that is reflected in several of her films. She studied at IDHEC and, after having been an assistant to Jacques Rivette, Jim Jarmusch and Wim Wenders, she made her feature debut in 1988 with Chocolat. Her cinema crosses genres and themes, and has been awarded in Cannes, San Sebastián, Berlin and Locarno, among others. In 2012 D’A dedicated her a retrospective.

Filmography: Fire (2022), Stars at Noon (2022, D'A 2023), High Life (2018), Dark Glasses (2017), Voilà l'enchaînement (mid-length film, 2014), Bastards (2013), To the Devil (mid-length film, 2011, D'A 2012), White Material (2009, D'A 2012), 35 Shots of Rum (2008, D'A 2012), Towards Mathilde (2005), The Intruder (2004, D'A 2012), Vendredi soir (2002, D'A 2012), Trouble Every Day (2001, D'A 2012), Beau travail (1999, D'A 2012), Nénette et Boni (1996, D'A 2012), I Can't Sleep (1994, D'A 2012), Keep It for Yourself (mid-length film, 1991), No Fear, No Die (1990, D'A 2012), Man no Run (1989), Chocolat (1988, D'A 2012), Le 15 mai (short film, 1971)

Claire Denis

Film information

Original Title: Chocolat
Director: Claire Denis
Script: Claire Denis, Jean-Pol Fargeau
Contact: mk2
With: François Cluzet, Cécile Ducasse, Jean-Claude Adelin, Giulia Boschi, Isaach de Bankolé, Didier Flamand
Country: France/Germany/Cameroon
Year: 1988
Format: 35 mm
Length: 105 min
Language: French
Subtitles: Catalan and English
Edition: 2012