Chocolate

France, a young French woman, returns to the site of her childhood at a colonial outpost in Cameroon. A quiet young girl, she observes the world around her, from her parents to their servants. She forms a friendship with their housekeeper, Protée, but soon discovers the complexities of Protée’s charged relationship with her mother and her houseguests. Claire Denis’ quasi-autobiographical exploration of the colonial power struggle in Cameroon is the first in a series of her films exploring French colonialism and racism in West Africa. A Palme D’Or nominee, Chocolat is a remarkably assured directorial debut featuring all the tension, subtlety and sophistication that characterise Claire Denis’ films. (British Film Institute (BFI))