Monsieur Chocolate

Chocolat was the stage name of Rafael Padilla, he gained fame as a circus clown in Paris at the turn of the 20th century.

"Monsieur Chocolat" is a lively and entertaining story of circus life. There is plenty of comic fun, but the real story here is about the ingrained nature of racism. The clown is one part of a successful duo and it becomes increasingly uncomfortable to realise how much of their fame was built on the sight of a black guy being slapped down by a white guy, the accepted order of the times. Make 'em laugh.

French Film Festival 2017
Transmission Films 119 mins