Chocolate
The chocolate as a symbol for freedom and indulgence is the biggest motif throughout the movie. It is not only a delicious treat, it also stands for the town's people's fears and desires. It stands for the breaking out of tradition and opening up of world views. The initial opening of Vianne's store is the first hole in the rigid facade of the town's strict moral code. The movie intelligently plays with the history and taste of chocolate to bring in different aspects of the new life that comes to town. It shows diversity, feminism, independence, romance and self assertion.
Kangaroo Pantoufle
Anouk's imaginary kangaroo is another blatant symbol that is placed in the movie. The child invents a creature that is unable to walk very far as she despises the way of life her mother forces on her. The kangaroo, therefore, is a small symbol for the changing attitudes in generations. While Vianne seems ok with her mother's choices for her life, the new generation refuses to strictly follow traditions that have little benefit for their own happiness. In the end, the decision of Vianne to break these traditions and free her daughter from the folk tradition's shackles allows this symbol to heal and disappear.
Mother's Ashes
In contrast with her daughter's kangaroo, Vianne's mother's ashes are a symbol for the choice to stick with tradition. The ashes are placed in a traditional, South American jar and are placed close to Vianne's bed. This proximity can be interpreted as a constant strain on Vianne, as her mother's expectations never leave her side. When the jar breaks in the movie, this also creates some cracks in the rigid adherence of Vianne, realizing that her ways are hurting her daughter. The final release of the ashes into the wind goes hand in hand with the main theme of the topic, the breaking of harmful traditions.
Christian Morals
The small French town's behavior and lifestyle can be seen as an allegory for Christian moral codes. Throughout European history, the morals instilled into the bible have shaped society in Europe more than any other concept. The movie takes a close and exaggerated look at these morals and, in its conclusion realizes that these heightened expectations have only negative consequences for the individuals and society at large.
River Folk
The appearance of the River Folk can be seen as an allegory for change and immigration. The new people are different, they follow different rules than those imposed by the town's moral code and must therefore be excised. This rigid interpretation leads to racism, classism and other rather unpleasant events throughout the movie. Interestingly, the actions of the newly arrived people in no way suggest that any of the prejudice against them is true. Therefore, it is fair to say that Chocolat takes a strong stance against discrimination based on religion, belief, or origin.
