Better Than Chocolate
| Better Than Chocolate | |
|---|---|
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| Directed by | Anne Wheeler |
| Written by | Peggy Thompson |
| Produced by | Sharon McGowan Peggy Thompson |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Gregory Middleton |
| Edited by | Alison Grace |
| Music by | Graeme Coleman |
| Distributed by | Motion International Trimark Pictures |
Release date | February 14, 1999 |
Running time | 102 mins |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1.6 million.[1] |
Better Than Chocolate is a 1999 Canadian romantic comedy film shot in Vancouver and directed by Anne Wheeler.[2][1]
Plot
 | This article needs an improved plot summary. (June 2020) |
Maggie (Karyn Dwyer) has moved out on her own and has started a relationship with Kim (Christina Cox). Maggie's mother Lila (Wendy Crewson) and brother are forced to move into her loft sublet with her, but unaware that she is a lesbian. Maggie's freedom is compromised, and she believes she must keep her blossoming affair a secret. The clandestine romance introduces Maggie's family to a host of new experiences, many of which are "better than chocolate".[3] The story features Judy, a friend of Maggie's who is a transgender woman. Judy develops a friendship with Maggie's Mom and helps her to repair her relationship with her daughter. Judy's love interest is Frances, owner of the book shop in which Maggie works and purveyor of LGBT literature.
Cast
- Karyn Dwyer as Maggie
- Christina Cox as Kim
- Peter Outerbridge as Judy
- Ann-Marie MacDonald as Frances
- Wendy Crewson as Lila, Maggie's Mom
- Kevin Mundy as Paul, Maggie's Brother
- Marya Delver as Carla
- Tony Nappo as Tony
- Jay Brazeau as Mr. Marcus
- Beatrice Zeilinger as Bernice
- Veena Sood as Religious Zealot
Background
The film was created with a budget of $1.6 million.[1] It was co-produced by Peggy Thompson and Sharon McGowan.[4]
The film takes its name from a lyric in Sarah McLachlan's song "Ice Cream", "Your love is better than chocolate". Veena Sood, the sister of McLachlan's then-husband Ashwin Sood, has a small role in the film as a religious protester.
The plot line about the bookstore is a fairly direct reference to Vancouver's
The movie poster, which shows two women embracing and one woman's naked back, was banned by the
Soundtrack
The soundtrack of the film was released as a CD in 1999 on Lakeshore Records.[7]
- Track listing
- Sexy - West End Girls
- When I Think Of You - Melanie Dekker
- 32 Flavors - Ani DiFranco
- Julie Christie - Lorraine Bowen
- Perfect Fingers - Tami Greer
- Let's Have Sex - Studio Kings 2.0/Trippy
- In My Mind - Trippy
- My Place - Edgar
- I'm Not A Fucking Drag Queen - Peter Outerbridge
- Stand Up - Ferron
- Night - Feisty
- Long Gone - Kelly Brock
- Pure (You're Touching Me) - West End Girls
Reception
On the
Stephen Holden of the New York Times gave the film a positive review and wrote: "the movie gushes with so much romantic optimism and good humor that it has the effervescence of an engaging musical comedy".[3]
Awards
The film screened at film festivals around the world and was ranked 31st on The Hollywood Reporter's Top 200 independent films list of 1999.[10]
See also
- List of LGBT films directed by women
References
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8020-8444-6.
- ^ "Review of Better Than Chocolate". AfterEllen, Aug 13, 2007
- ^ a b Holden, Stephen (13 August 1999). "FILM REVIEW; The Many Flavors of Love, For Just About Any Taste". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2015-05-27.
- ^ "Nothing better than Chocolate for veteran director Wheeler"[permanent dead link]. Toronto Star - Toronto, Ont. Walker, Susan. Aug 13, 1999. Page: E1
- ^ Statement for the decision on a poster for a Category III film
- ^ San Diego Union-Tribune Refuses to Run The Word 'Lesbian' in Advertising
- ^ "Original Soundtrack Better Than Chocolate". AllMusic, Review by Stacia Proefrock
- ^ "Better than Chocolate (1999)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2022-11-19.
- ^ "Better Than Chocolate Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
- ^ "The Sixth Sense to Fight Club (August - October 1999)". Pop Matters, 24 March 2009
External links
