I saw this film last night in a smallish older style suburban theatre - the Balwyn Cinema in Melbourne (I sat at the back). I love older style theatres which have real atmosphere unlike modern day dogboxes.

Disturbingly the audience was almost exclusively of an older age group (older than me - I'm 36). Pity that a younger audience didn't give this film a look.

I loved the film and thought that the film really illustrated what a film should fundamentally be about - namely telling a story. The script was strong, the setting good (although at points the film didn't convey a genuine French 'feel') and the actors good. It is very hard to make a film feel genuinely French. I think some things are better left up to the French themselves!

Nonetheless I enjoyed this film immensely. Dame Judy Dench's performance was excellent and deserved an award.

Some of the aerial shots of the town appear to have been done using a model which is why they may not have used scope.

And the subject matter is very tasty although it is interesting to note that I watched 'Delicatessan' on video during the week and this paints quite a different picture of the french palate!

Still, this film makes me want to visit the Chocolate Box (a chocolate shop) in Camberwell!

I highly recommend this film to all ages. Or to anyone who likes chocolate. Yum!

4 1/2 stars

cheers Peter