Was the movie Chocolat based on fact?

The movie "Chocolat," directed by Lasse Hallström and based on the novel by Joanne Harris, is a work of fiction. While the story is set in a fictional French village in the 1950s and explores themes of community and personal freedom through the introduction of a chocolate shop, it is not based on real events or specific historical figures. However, the novel and film do draw on universal themes and cultural elements related to food and tradition.