Joyeux Noël by Christian Carion (2005)
25 November 2006This is a film that my father’s wife rented on NetFlix because it was a Christmas film, and this was not what I was expecting at all. This is an incredibly powerful and moving film about the futlity of war, that is based on a true even that occured on Christmas Eve in 1914 during World War Line on the lines with the French, Scottish and German soldiers, who on their own called a siece fire and spent the time together as friends, only to be thrown back into the war when higher ups heard of this and decided to punish these soldiers.
REVIEW CONTAIN SPOILERS…
On the German side a woman named Anna Sorenson (Diane Kruger) who was a famous opera singer convinces the German high command to let her get back together with her boyfriend and fellow singer, private Nikolaus Sprink (Benno Furmann) and Sprink refuses to stay and sing for the high command, so the 2 return to the front line to entertain the soldiers who have been given small Christmas Trees. Already the Scotts are playing their bagpipes, but then Spink sings and the Scotts acompany on their pipes. And to all of their surprise they all come out and call a cease fire and trade wine and talk, and even letters and info to be sent to their families on the other sides. And when the war is set to start again they help each other share the trenches away from shellings. Sprink and Anna end up staying with the French so they can be together, but the other sides return and are punished and sent elsewhere for their supposedly traitorous acts, which were only acts of kindness and friendship because these people did not have any personal anger against each other.
••••
An incredibly powerful and well done war film. In fact one of the better ones I have ever seen. I can’t believe I had not heard of this before. This is an aboslute must see film. I can’t recomend it more highly.
Feedback
You must be logged in to post a comment.