The Chocolate War

The Chocolate War

Year: 2022

Runtime: 80 mins

Language: English

Director: Miki Mistrati

Documentary

A man investigates the billion-dollar chocolate industry and uncovers shocking exploitation of child labor on cocoa plantations. His pursuit of justice leads to a tense courtroom battle against powerful corporations, exposing the dark side of a seemingly innocent treat and fighting to end modern slavery.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – The Chocolate War (2022)

Trace every key event in The Chocolate War (2022) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Jerry joins Trinity and befriends The Goober

Jerry, a freshman at Trinity High School, grapples with his mother's death and his father's grief as he starts school. He quickly meets Roland "The Goober" Goubert, a fellow freshman who becomes his first real friend. The campus social dynamics are already shaping him, even before the big chocolate fundraiser begins.

early in the school year Trinity High School
2

Leon becomes acting headmaster and doubles the chocolate fundraiser with the Vigils

Vice-principal Brother Leon, newly acting headmaster, drives Trinity to sell twice as much chocolate as the previous year. He quietly enlists Archie Costello, the mastermind behind The Vigils, to orchestrate the plan. The school's power dynamics begin to tilt toward manipulation and control.

shortly after Leon becomes acting headmaster Trinity High School
3

Archie assigns Jerry the 10-day chocolate-free challenge

Archie secretly devises a plan to destabilize Jerry by ordering him to refuse to sell any chocolate for 10 days. The assignment is meant to provoke a confrontation between student conformity and individual rebellion. The move marks the first explicit clash between Jerry and The Vigils.

early days after assignment Trinity High School, corridors
4

Jerry is inspired by a TS Eliot quote and commits to selling nothing even after the 10 days

Jerry discovers a locker quote from T. S. Eliot's The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock: 'Do I dare disturb the universe?' This message sparks a defiant resolve in him. He chooses to persist in selling nothing even after the ten-day period ends, drawing a line against both Leon and The Vigils. His stance quickly isolates him from his former allies.

after ten days Trinity High School
5

Initial backlash as Leon and Archie escalate pressure

Jerry's stand is initially seen as heroic by some classmates, but Leon and The Vigils worry about losing control over the fundraising. They shift strategy to make Jerry an enemy the student body should harass. Pranks, calls, and vandalism begin to test Jerry's resolve.

soon after the ten-day mark Trinity High School
6

The Goober stays by Jerry but offers limited protection

The Goober remains Jerry's only real ally, yet his protection is limited against the organized pressure from The Vigils. He tries to intervene, but the broader power structure makes it difficult to shield Jerry. Jerry's isolation deepens as the harassment intensifies.

ongoing after Jerry's stance Trinity High School
7

Archie enlists Emile Janza to beat up Jerry

Archie recruits the school bully Emile Janza to physically assault Jerry just outside the school. The planned beating is a calculated move to intimidate and force compliance. The broader school power dynamic reveals the price of dissent.

shortly after start of harassment Outside Trinity High School
8

The off-campus assault on Jerry

Emile Janza ambushes Jerry outside the school, leaving him battered and humiliated. The attack underscores the danger of resisting The Vigils. The incident also escalates the stakes of the upcoming showdown.

shortly after the recruitment Outside Trinity High School
9

Archie plans the late-night boxing match

Archie schemes a boxing match between Jerry and Emile to publicly settle the dispute. The event will take place at night on the football field, turning the campus into a spectacle. A twist is the students vote on blows by a randomized lottery, making the fight a campus-wide event.

night Trinity Football Field
10

The fight begins; power outage ends the match

The boxing match commences with the entire student body participating in the blow selections via lottery. A teacher powers down the field lights, plunging the arena into darkness during the brutal bout. Jerry sustains serious injuries and, in a half-conscious moment, acknowledges the futility of resisting the system.

during the night showdown Trinity Football Field
11

Jerry's confession and the moral weight of 'disturbing the universe'

Half-conscious after the fight, Jerry tells The Goober that there was no way to win and that he should have complied. He concedes that, after all, maybe it's best not to disturb the universe. The confession highlights the tragedy of steadfast nonconformity in a coercive school culture.

immediately after the fight Football Field
12

Archie is exposed but praised by Leon

Archie is revealed as the mastermind behind the fight, but Brother Leon intervenes on his behalf. He privately praises Archie's successful manipulation and the dramatic boost in chocolate sales. Leon hints that if he becomes headmaster next year, he will preserve Archie's power.

after the fight Trinity High School
13

Leon hints at future power and the cycle continues

Leon frames the victory as a success for the school, already planning to maintain Archie’s influence. The power structure's resilience suggests more cadres of control under his leadership. Jerry's defiance may have been crushed for the moment, with the system consolidating its gains.

end of showdown Trinity High School

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 10:24

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The Chocolate War Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Chocolate War, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Chocolate War Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Chocolate War

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Chocolate War

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The Chocolate War Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Chocolate War

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