Vianne Rocher:

Vianne comes into Lansquenet on the winds of the february carnival, with her 6-years-old daughter in tow. The villagers have seen nothing like her. Where has she come from? Her accent gives nothing away as it is a little too pure for a French woman. Is she a witch? She cretainly bewitches the villagers with her chocolates and her encouragements that loosen the bounds of the church and the Priest, Francis Reynaud, who governs them. She opens her shop, La Celeste Praline, though Vianne is bound herself, to walk the world, moving from village to village on the clever north wind. But in Lansquenet she finds friendship and begins to put down roots at last. As the north wind moves on, she hopes and prays that this time it will go without her.

Vianne of the movie is just as mysterious and seductive, tempting the villagers to break their Lenten fast. This time she urges them to throw away the boundaries of convention laid down by the Comte de Raynaud. Lansquenet is almost feudal in it's obedience to the Comte. Once again, Vianne, though always a wanderer, longs to take root in the village with her friends and her new love. This time her shop is Le Chocolaterie Maya.

Whichever version you prefer, Vianne is not like the people of Lansquenet. She is an exotic bird, bringing little tastes of far-off countries and other worlds to those who are starving for lack of joy and colour. She is mischevious and witty, but means no harm to anyone, not even to the emboidment of order and supression, whether it be from church or feudal lord.