Photo credit: The Granger Collection, New York

Good Views: Joyeux Noel (2005)

Posted November 19, 2009

As a passionate moviegoer and movie blog critic, Regions associate Bret Pippen shares his take on good films.

THE HOLIDAY SEASON means a lot of things to a lot of people but, in general, it means, food, fellowship, music, worship, and, yes, movies. The standard movies are trotted out each year with new ones being introduced every now and again. If you’re getting tired of the same old same old and are looking for a holiday movie that is both well made and inspiring, look no further than the 2005 French film Joyeux Noel.

This film is set in the trenches of World War I in December 1914. On one side are the French and Scottish armies and on the other side are the German armies. It’s war in the trenches so there is violence. There is death. But for a brief moment on Christmas Eve, a ceasefire is called and music brings them all together.

Joyeux Noel is based on a collection of true stories that occurred along the trench line in World War I – the true stories of men from each side of the trench getting together and enjoying each other’s company on Christmas Eve.

This excellent movie focuses on how this “fraternization” changed a certain group of individuals. The story is well done and the direction is tight and concise. On a personal note, I was particularly pleased to hear the magnificent voices of current opera stars Natalie Dessay and Rolando Villazon.

A quick note: This is not necessarily a movie for the children. It is PG-13 for a reason. It is war and there is violence and there is death. Also, the movie is sub-titled because the actors speak in German, French and English. The DVD edition also contains an interview with the director, which I recommend you watch for terrific background on the movie’s story.

So if you get a chance to rent a DVD that’s a little different from the usual fare, I would highly recommend you pick up this well-made French film.

comments (2)

I am so glad you reviewed this movie for Christmas. It has been a favorite of mine since it's release, but very few people have seen it. For me it is a rare gem that captures the true meaning of Christmas. I also enjoyed your review of "Young at Heart" last week. Another spectacular, yet little known movie. You should watch "Paperclips". It's a documentary about a group of 6th graders in Kentucky who collect a paperclip for every Holocaust victim. Another great one!

Christa

This sounds like a movie my father would love, and I plan on telling him about it. Maybe we'll rent it together!

Brandy