The Color of the Cape She Wears is Red.

crafted and seen by Martha Hopler

The Movie: Chocolat. If you have not watched the movie since the posting of our last month’s blog, I invite you to watch it sometime this month. I suggest you take the time to watch it and hear your own voice, your own desires, and your own fears in a way that this movie seems to allow, that few others do. For now I invite you to read what I experienced of my own voice in relationship to the voices heard in Chocolat.

 I have some questions that are on my mind as I watch Vianne and her daughter, Anouk, enter the town in their bright red capes. What brings them to this town at all, let alone in red capes? What do they want? Vianne’s reason for coming into town becomes apparent quickly as one watches the movie. She is there to create her space where she can sell or give chocolate to those who visit her chocolaterie.


It takes longer to know what the daughter wants when she arrives into town. It is not until the crisis has occurred and they are about to leave that Anouk puts words to her desire to stay. I cannot help but wonder if Anouk came into every town with the hope that this would be the last town, the end of their moving.


I feel my own ambivalence as I watch the movie. The question that I often ask is; Should they go or should they stay? My inner dialogue goes something like this. "When things are going well, you should stay and make a home for you and your daughter. Open a shop to make chocolate for the people. Vianne, you can offer freedom and grace, too, as you offer the village people what you believe is their favorite chocolate."


Vianne does stay for some time and does what she came to do. In staying she invites many of the village people to hope again. She invites and creates celebration for the old woman who wants to celebrate her life. Vianne’s hard work pays off and the birthday party for the old woman goes off with much beauty and grace. It does seem that when we choose to stay and continue to invite those who may not even be sure why they are invited that it creates a sense of community. The community essence is beautiful even when it is not complete, as the old woman’s daughter does not attend the celebration.


Yet it is this creation of community and inviting that begins what could be the end of the story and of all the happiness Vianne has ever known. As the fire roars through the boats, Vianne is sure that Anouk is dead and then life would really be over.


The ambivalence begins and I am aware of my voice. "Go!! Take what you can and go. No one deserves this much pain and fear of loss. Yes, Vianne, gooooooooo now!! It is ok. You have proved your point. You have done what you have come to do. The town’s people can do the rest on their own. They have missed the point of celebration. Let them create their own Easter celebration. You deserve to go. The Old women you brought life and celebration to is dead…………go. Put on your red cape, pack your bags, and take your daughter to a new place of safety to start again. No amount of good that you have to offer is worth this much loss."


But the voice of Anouk interrupts my own thoughts as she begs her mother to stay. It is this voice, the voice of her daughter that creates the need for Vianne to stop and make her daughter do what she believes to be right. Vianne insists that the time to leave has come and there is no choice. No amount of reasoning will change Vianne's mind.

My ambivalence continues as I hear the words of the daughter begging her mother to stay and longing for them to make it work. I wonder…what will it take for them to stay and celebrate life again?
   **To stay or to go is often a question that we cannot answer without the process of life. It is often the process itself that answers the question.**