MovieChat Forums > Chocolat (2001) Discussion > Is the movie anti-Christian or anti-reli...

Is the movie anti-Christian or anti-religious?

posted 12 years ago by slofstra
21 replies | jump to latest

Some of the negative reviews posted here feel there is negative stereotyping of Christians going on in this movie. I would ask those reviewers to consider the position of the priest, the central religious figure in the movie, who comes up with a nice little sermon at the end that epitomizes the message of the movie. So it's not anti-Christian at all, but against a certain kind of Christian. I think you'd have to say that the harmful effects of over-moralizing, and of the inter-relationship of moral rules and power is a reality in the life of most religious communities. And that becomes an issue within those communities, not just outside or against them.
It's interesting to contrast this piece with something like 'It's A wonderful life' where the positive effects of a moral life are contrasted against outright dissipation because of immorality. The two movies are not inconsistent, just looking at the same issue from a couple of different viewpoints.

[–] ChocolateFrankenstein 11 years ago

I would ask those reviewers to consider the position of the priest, the central religious figure in the movie, who comes up with a nice little sermon at the end that epitomizes the message of the movie.

Well said, if anything the movie is pro tolerance.

"Beauty is the means which we use to measure our own vanity."

[–] ilahilda 11 years ago

The mayor was using his religion to repress and hurt people, that was wrong.

[–] Punctuality 11 years ago

True but I think, ultimately, it was about power. He was using his religion to empower himself over others - control and subjugate them - because he felt so emasculated by his wife leaving him.

Like the second poster said, I think the movie was pro-tolerance, too. Live and let live; do as thou wilt, as long as it's not hurting anyone, be excellent to each other, that kind of thing.

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Be excellent to each other!

[–] roboh-1 9 years ago

Party on, dude!

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The main reason that Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live

[–] MarblesLove 11 years ago

I don't think it was about anti-religion/Christianity. I think it's more about what the second poster said, that being pro-tolerance.

This is my signature.

[–] ChuckFinnley 11 years ago

The movie is anti-old testament.

[–] starchild438 11 years ago

I thought it was simply trying to say not to be a certain type of Christian. That it is not Christ-like to judge and be exclusive.

[–] MarblesLove 11 years ago

^That, in so many ways!

This is my signature.

[–] spookyrat1 10 years ago

I know Roger Ebert had this idea of the film being pro-Pagan vs Catholicism. To liven up the proceedings a little I perhaps wouldn't have minded things being ramped up a little more emotively, but I thought the film adopted a fairly conservative neutral approach. It wasn't being critical of religion. I think it probably was suggesting

...to be a certain type of (better) Christian.

[–] mrbluto-2 11 years ago

The problem starts with Christians not acting Christian bur acting like god.

[–] mrbluto-2 10 years ago

The movie is not anti religion it is anti intolerance. The weakness of the people, the abuse of the woman are not only tolerated by the church but endorsed.

[–] geoh777 9 years ago

This movie is feminist (and anti-male on top of that; who woulda guessed?).
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[–] califor123 10 years ago

Gosh, I sure hope it's not anti-christian. I wouldn't want to do any harm to those priests who are/were pedophiles, diddling your children. Or those ministers who get you to lose so much of your real life, worrying about an afterlife that there is no proof will ever happen. Talk about killing time...and it's your time to lose and never get back.

Life is a temporary assignment. In time, this earth will be gone, entirely, broken down into the atoms and particles that once created it. There will be no more us, and religion, thankfully, will be gone and forgotten. Hopefully, America will smarten-up and ditch this multi-billion dollar industry long before that, making this a much better earth.

[–] chilone (18067) 6 years ago

And you know all this how?

[–] Syxiepoo 10 years ago

It is simply anti-bigot, anti-self-serving, manipulative and controlling people who can't, or won't, understand the premise of live-and-let-live.

As for the way religion is badly used here, that could be applied to any and all religions throughout history - good intentions misinterpreted and twisted by those with ill intentions towards others.

This story is pro-life and pro-freedom-of-choice ... and pro-chocolate.

As has been said a few times here, the priest sums it up well at the end.

There is real life ... and then there are movies!