Omar Sy and James Thierrée are a fantastic acting couple in Chocolat

« Chocolat », the new film directed by Roschdy Zem and produced by the Altmayer brothers (Nicolas and Eric), is the charming and sad story of the rise and fall of the first black actor in France. And it is a lovely surprise, thanks to the two main actors, James Thierrée, a confirmed stage actor and Charlie Chaplin’s grandson (who looks so much like his grandfather on screen) and Omar Sy who was made famous by his part in the film « Intouchables », and whose presence and large smile are vivid throughout the film.

Omar Sy/Rafael Padilla was in 1886, the first black clown and actor in France

This is the story of a young Cuban boy who is taken to Bilbao by a Spanish farmer and escapes the harsh life of semi slavery to join a circus in Paris. His first part is that of a savage with a monkey who terrifies children and he grows into becoming a brilliant clown in a duet with Georges Footit, who makes him famous and rich.
Unfortunately, gambling, girls, drugs have no secrets for him and he destroys his life.  A wonderful widow, Marie, (acted by the excellent Clotilde Hesme) whom he meets in a hospital while playing clown to sick children,  does not succeed in saving him.

Chocolat is superb in his copper bath tub

Secondary roles are excellent: Alice de Lencquesaing as Camille, his first girlfriend, is charming, and Denis and Bruno Podalydés are fun as the Lumière brothers filming the clowns. And so is Thibault de Montalembert, making a late appearance as Iago on stage.

Clotilde Hesme makes a fulgurant apparition as the only woman Chocolat will ever love

The film set in the 1890’s, is beautiful with very decorative scenes of Omar Sy taking a bath in a hot copper bath tub, or jumping up and down at the circus. When Chocolat admits that “I wanted to change skin”, one understands the toughness of being a successful but « colored » actor in the bourgeois turn of the century Parisian society. The sad James Thierrée permanently contrasts with Omar Sy’s joie de vivre. And they remain faithful to each other till the end. One forgets how entertaining circus can be, and seeing this film and the youthful performance of CNAC, Ecole national du cirque’s young graduates at the Espace Chapiteaux of Parc de la Villette reminded me that nothing compares with live performances.

This film is mostly a superlative acting show and a joy to watch. It probably does not entirely do justice to Rafael Padilla, a true stage entrepreneur but it makes him popular.