Reading Masculinities in Claire Denis' Chocolat (1988)

This paper comes in three parts. First a framing and focusing of Claire Denis' film Chocolat, including a brief synopsis of the film. Second, a summary of Denis' stated purpose in making the film and what we can read from that in relation to the film itself and the construction of subjectivity. Third and finally, an investigation of the construction of 'masculinity' as it concerns the main male protagonist, Protee - the black man-servant also referred to in the film as 'le boy'.