Two teachers at a New England prep school get into a battle over words vs. pictures... but is it really about the arts? Or their hearts?
Drunken poet Jack Marcus (Owen) is a stereotypical writer... published once long ago, but hasn't written a word in years. Dina DelSanto (Binoche) is a celebrated NYC painter who has lost control of her body to rheumatoid
arthritis, and thinks she will never paint again. After starting a friendly school rivalry over the efficacy of words to convey an emotion versus the ability of an image, they both find something they need in each other.
This film was a delightful surprise... despite a few detours into side-plots that seemed to disappear into nothingness. The dialogue was clever, but not overly complex, thus alienating the average viewer. The imagery was at times beautiful and breathtaking, but not overtly so. In just its form, the film itself is a statement about how pictures and words are both effective, and necessary for expression. I found the movie to be oddly educational, and imagine it has been shown in more than one classroom across the US as a tool to start a dialogue.
As a movie for makers, this film is excellent. Not only is it useful at occupying your brain while using your hands, it has some inspirational moments. I still don't know why Swint's plotline was left in the movie, except maybe to better illustrate Emily's character, but it gets dropped like a hot potato and we never hear about it again. Maybe something was cut, or maybe it was also left in to show the relative battle of wills by Marcus and DelSanto, I don't know... but I found it odd that we never even hear what happens after his expulsion. Three laugh out loud moments, but nothing on the other counts... although I might need to start a new count category for cringing. Clive Owen plays a drunk very well.
I gave this movie a four and a half out of five stars. The forgiveness at the very end of the movie seemed abrupt, and being in a position to know how hard it can be to forgive an alcoholic who's wronged you, felt it was glossed over for the sake of a neat happy ending. Otherwise I found this film to be perfect. If you enjoyed Chocolat, you will enjoy this film.
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