MovieChat Forums > Chocolat (2001) Discussion > Dame Dench's Accent

Dame Dench's Accent

posted 15 years ago by abigler_06
14 replies | jump to latest

I watched Chocolat a few years ago, and found it to be a very interesting film... but I bought it a few days ago and was really disconcerted by Dame Dench's obviously English accent. Everyone else in the film at least attempted a deviated French accent... except for her. For some reason it stuck out like a sore thumb on the second viewing.

I love her as an accomplished actress, but could she not just pull of a French accent?

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[–] parunach 15 years ago

Dame Judy Dench can speak excellent French. This movie does not require everyone to have a French accent. Only a small subset of the actors in the movie can speak good French.

[–] crooked_spoons 15 years ago

Ok Parunach, yes she can speak French, but she can't do a French accent, so says the OP. So your point is?

Quite frankly, I didn't even notice the accent or lack thereof. I generally pay attention to things like that so it couldn't have been that bad.

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[–] PhantomPhan222 15 years ago

"Ok Parunach, yes she can speak French, but she can't do a French accent, so says the OP. So your point is?"

Pronunciation and accent is key to speaking any romance language such as French or Italian. Judi Dench is an accomplished student of the French language and would not be so if she could not do the accent as well.

For some actors they feel speaking English in a foreign accent is a conflict of interests. If a character is speaking English let them speak with an English accent, the setting will indicate it is not set in England. Daniel Day Lewis is another actor who feels this way about accents. It's not for every actor, but some do believe it's an uneccessary signpost that cheapens the storytelling and can be a bit patronising for an audience.

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[–] mojekearthe 15 years ago

It wasn't even close to the molestation that Dick Van Dyke impaired on the Cockney English in "Mary Poppins."

[–] odo5435 15 years ago

As pointed out by @PhantonPhan, there were probably good reasons for the accent or lack thereof as, I hope, had you for not using the actress' correct name.

The lady in question is correctly addressed as Dame Judi.

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[–] ragreen259 14 years ago

Dame Densch? What's wrong with you?

[–] yesterdaysnotover 14 years ago

Lasse Hallström said in the commentary that he encouraged everyone to speak with a "slight French accent." The difference between the native French speakers and the non-native French speakers in the film is quite evident. Judi Dench gave a riveting, fantastic performance, so I'm willing to overlook a less-than-perfect accent. I could not think of a better Armande.

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[–] cruxn 14 years ago

I was more irked by the fact that everyone was speaking in English in a little French town for no logical reason. I have no problem following subtitles, whereas I have great problems suspending my disbelief out of concession for the director's clear opinion that I am a close-minded viewer.

[–] lostcruces22 13 years ago

It was an english movie not a french movie. Lasse Hallstrom is a Swedish man who generally makes American movies. If he wanted to make a french movie, i'm sure he would go make a "French" movie. So it has nothing to do with your generalization that he was pandering to 'close-minded viewers' is not the intention. The movie The Emigrants with Liv Ullman was a Swedish movie taking place in the US but it is not in english since it is a swedish movie made for Swedish people with Swedish financing, so the same rules apply.

[–] Ariana902 14 years ago

Her accent reminds me of my grandmothers Belgian accent - after a life of mingling with different people from all over the world, she no longer sounds strictly "Belgian", but instead has a mixed accent. I think Armande would be similar, and her accent would be a reflection of a long, adventurous life.

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