It doesn't take long for Vianne to discover that underneath the tranquility of the village lurks intolerance, misunderstandings, injustices, hates, fears, and all sorts of deep, dark personal secrets. Chocolate becomes a catalyst for transformation. As they sample Vianne's chocolates, people find their lives changing. Somehow, it seems to put people in touch with their real feelings, to help them overcome inhibitions, to give them courage to fulfill their dreams, to bring out their true passions, and to help them know the love in themselves and in others. Armande discloses that she is estranged from her daughter and is forbidden to see her grandson.
More chocolate is needed all around, please.
The mayor declares that Vianne and her chocolates are the enemy of the church, an institution which he runs to keep order in the village. In truth, Vianne isn't religious in the organizational sense of the word. She most certainly does exercise an influence over people, however, and people start reacting differently. Vianne offers Armande's grandson a slice of chocolate cake, but he refuses and says he isn't supposed to have the cake. The young priest, however, who loves Elvis music, obviously relates to the natural, joyous spiritual perspective of Vianne, and, like so many others in the town, is just waiting to burst free of the village's tradition of rigidity and intolerance.