Better Than Chocolate

Better Than Chocolate is a 1999 Canadian romantic comedy film shot in Vancouver and directed by Anne Wheeler.

Plot
Maggie (Karyn Dwyer) has moved out on her own and has started a relationship with Kim (Christina Cox). Maggie's mother Lila (Wendy Crewson) and brother are forced to move into her loft sublet with her, but unaware that she is a lesbian. Maggie's freedom is compromised, and she believes she must keep her blossoming affair a secret. The clandestine romance introduces Maggie's family to a host of new experiences, many of which are "better than chocolate". The story features Judy, a friend of Maggie's who is a transgender woman. Judy develops a friendship with Maggie's Mom and helps her to repair her relationship with her daughter. Judy's love interest is Frances, owner of the book shop in which Maggie works and purveyor of LGBT literature.

Cast

 * Karyn Dwyer as Maggie
 * Christina Cox as Kim
 * Peter Outerbridge as Judy
 * Ann-Marie MacDonald as Frances
 * Wendy Crewson as Lila, Maggie's Mom
 * Kevin Mundy as Paul, Maggie's Brother
 * Marya Delver as Carla
 * Tony Nappo as Tony
 * Jay Brazeau as Mr. Marcus
 * Beatrice Zeilinger as Bernice
 * Veena Sood as Religious Zealot

Background
The film was created with a budget of $1.6 million. It was co-produced by Peggy Thompson and Sharon McGowan.

The film takes its name from a lyric in Sarah McLachlan's song "Ice Cream", "Your love is better than chocolate". Veena Sood, the sister of McLachlan's then-husband Ashwin Sood, has a small role in the film as a religious protester.

The plot line about the bookstore is a fairly direct reference to Vancouver's Little Sister's Book and Art Emporium and its travails with Canada Customs. The bookstore is thanked in the credits. Ann-Marie MacDonald, who plays the bookstore's owner, is a well-known Canadian author.

The movie poster, which shows two women embracing and one woman's naked back, was banned by the Hong Kong Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority as it was deemed "offensive to public morality, decency and ordinary good taste." An advertisement in the San Diego Union-Tribune was also removed, due to the word "lesbian" being present on the movie poster.

Soundtrack
The soundtrack of the film was released as a CD in 1999 on Lakeshore Records.
 * Track listing:
 * 1) Sexy - West End Girls
 * 2) When I Think Of You - Melanie Dekker
 * 3) 32 Flavors - Ani DiFranco
 * 4) Julie Christie - Lorraine Bowen
 * 5) Perfect Fingers - Tami Greer
 * 6) Let's Have Sex - Studio Kings 2.0/Trippy
 * 7) In My Mind - Trippy
 * 8) My Place - Edgar
 * 9) I'm Not A Fucking Drag Queen - Peter Outerbridge
 * 10) Stand Up - Ferron
 * 11) Night - Feisty
 * 12) Long Gone - Kelly Brock
 * 13) Pure (You're Touching Me) - West End Girls

Reception
Stephen Holden of the New York Times gave the film a positive review and wrote: "the movie gushes with so much romantic optimism and good humor that it has the effervescence of an engaging musical comedy".

Awards
The film screened at film festivals around the world and was ranked 31st on The Hollywood Reporter's Top 200 independent films list of 1999.