The Chocolate War

The Chocolate War is a 1988 American drama film written and directed by Keith Gordon, based on Robert Cormier's novel of the same name. It offers a portrait of the hierarchical structure of a Catholic boys' boarding school, where new student Jerry Renault (Ilan Mitchell-Smith) must submit to the bizarre rituals of his peers and the expectations of the school's administration. As Jerry refuses to sell chocolates for ten days, he is drawn into an alliance with Brother Leon (John Glover) and The Vigils, a secret society of students who will stop at nothing to ensure the sale succeeds. The film follows Jerry's journey as he faces the consequences of his actions and the true nature of the school's power dynamics.