With some films featured on this website, a talented young actress is the only reason to watch an otherwise mediocre movie. But this is not the case with Chocolat. While 8-year-old Victoire Thivisol gives an excellent performance, so does the entire cast, which includes A-listers Johnny Depp, Juliette Binoche, and Judi Dench. It is proof of Victoire's talent that she still shines, even among such glittering co-stars, not to mention skillful direction and beautiful scenery.

The film, set during the 1950s, centers around Vianne (Juliette Binoche), a chocolate-maker extraordinaire who drifts from town to town across Europe, selling her sweets. The film opens as she is arriving in Lansquenet, a tiny French village. In tow is her young daughter Anouk, played by Victoire. Although her role is somewhat small, it still allows for plenty of impressive acting, which anyone who saw Victoire's debut film Ponette knows to expect from her.

Those who saw Ponette also know that Victoire played a very somber little girl in it. Not so with Chocolat. Her Anouk is friendly, cheerful, and very adorable – an absolute delight to watch. Victoire later said that she had lots of fun filming this movie (and playing video games with Johnny Depp between takes) and that happiness shines through in all her scenes. I doubt if anyone could watch this film and not fall in love with her.

It is clear from the beginning that Anouk is no ordinary little girl. She has spent her life traveling with her mother, so for company, she has invented an imaginary friend, a kangaroo named Pantoufle. When Vianne and Anouk meet their new landlady Armande (Judi Dench), Anouk tells her about Pantoufle as if he is real. Vianne encourages her imagination by explaining to Armande, "Pantoufle is her kangaroo." Armande is taken aback by Anouk, who is outspoken and inquisitive in a time and place where children are seen and not heard.

Anouk has a very unique relationship with Vianne. They not merely a mother and daughter; they are the only permanent fixtures in each other’s lives, so naturally, they’re very close. But as close as she is to her mother, there are still things that Anouk cannot tell her. Anouk hates their nomadic lifestyle, but rather than say so, she drops hints. As they settle into Lansquenet, Anouk says, "What a nice town this is. Don’t you think so, Mama? Mama, Pantoufle wants to know how long we can stay." They reminded me of Ada and her daughter Flora in The Piano, in that both mothers are very close to their daughters and treat them more as friends, equals. Victoire has a natural chemistry with Juliette Binoche, perhaps because she has played Binoche's daughter before, in their earlier French film Les Enfants du Siecle.

Vianne immediately earns the disapproval of Lansquenet's mayor, Reynaud (Alfred Molina). He has very traditional ideas about women and doesn't like that Vianne is a single parent who runs a business and doesn't attend church. Reynaud holds tremendous influence in his tiny town, and he uses it to make sure Vianne and Anouk feel unwelcome. At one point he approaches a group of women gossiping about Vianne and says, with fake sympathy, "My heart goes out to that poor illegitimate daughter of hers." But Vianne refuses to leave town without a fight. She starts winning over the townspeople with her warm personality and exquisite chocolates.

Vianne doesn't notice when her daughter gets caught in the crosshairs of the conflict between her and Reynaud. While she's proud to stand out, Anouk is desperate to fit in. She tries to make friends at school, but like Vianne, Anouk is bold and proud, so when the boys in her class make fun of her, she fearlessly attempts to fistfight them all. Anouk is easy to spot in the schoolyard: Vianne dresses her in bright, colorful outfits that stand out among the other children’s drab clothes. No, Anouk is no ordinary little girl – but she sure wants to be.

The movie gets even better with the arrival of more wanderers – a band of river gypsies, and among them is the handsome Roux (Johnny Depp). Mayor Reynaud convinces the town that the "river rats" are sinful and organizes a "Boycott Immorality" against them, while Vianne befriends them and gives their children free chocolates. She and Anouk are both taken with Roux. Vianne is mutually attracted to him, and Anouk wants him for the father she's never had. One night, she watches Roux and Vianne dancing with a look of longing – for a father, a permanent home, a normal life. (Anouk's father, by the way, is a mystery. Vianne has told her that she doesn't know exactly who or where her father is.) That very same night, Reynaud's mission to drive the gypsies out of Lansquenet literally turns explosive, and the violence is a bit shocking in such a lush movie.

Perhaps Victoire's best scene comes when Vianne decides it's time to pack up and move on. When she learns they're leaving Lansquenet, Anouk moves from anger to sadness to acceptance. I tear up almost every time she pleads, "I'm sorry, Mama. Next time will be better, won't it, Mama?" But don't worry: Anouk gets a happy ending. In fact, one of the final shots of the film is her happy face smiling right at the camera.

I should clarify that while this review focuses on Anouk, she is only one part of the film. There are subplots involving the landlady Armande and her family, and a local woman being abused by her husband. We get backstories on Vianne and Reynaud, which explain why she won't settle down, and why he's so uptight. All the stories are well-told, and together they create a message of tolerance, forgiveness, and independence. Each scene is lushly composed, and the film is a visual stunner. Director Lasse Hallstrom, known for his eye for details, indulges us in close-ups of the beautiful cast, the mouth-watering chocolates, and the picturesque little town. Having spent considerable time in the French countryside, I can say that Chocolat does it true justice.

But for me, the best thing about this film is Victoire. She acts superbly throughout – and in her second language, no less! (French is her native tongue, and as of this writing, Chocolat her only English-language film.) Her Anouk possesses both a precocious wisdom and a silly playfulness. For example, when Vianne asks, "Where’s my kiss?" as her daughter is leaving for school, Anouk licks her face instead of kissing her. Although Victoire’s acting in this film cannot compare to her performance in Ponette, Chocolat has a much broader appeal than Ponette does. It well deserved the Oscar nomination it received for Best Picture.