Joyeux Noel (Merry Christmas)
This is a different kind of Christmas film as it is also a war film. The truce of Christmas 1914 happened all up and down the front during the first part of WWI. Spontaneous ceasefires were enacted as a majority of the soldiers involved thought it was in poor form to fight on Christmas. Before I get too far into this, let me clarify one detail. While one of the prominent characters is a priest and Christmas being Christ's birthday (for Christians) was mentioned as a major motivation in declaring the ceasefire, religion is not the focus of the film. However, it does skirt very close towards by previously stated no religion rule.
I wanted to discuss Joyeux Noel (Merry Christmas) as it is an unusual Christmas movie. While it does happen on Christmas and Christmas is the main reason for the cease fire, it is a war movie at heart. To be honest (and only from a narrative/filmmaking view), WWI is not the most exciting war to adapt to film. Very early on, the war became stagnant with the trenches and gains/losses were measured in inches rather than cities. Now, it is fascinating and horrifying to learn about for anyone but, particularly as a student of history (like myself). The intricacies and lunacies of each nation can be difficult to express however, this film does so very well.
One of the most important scenes is a small one between the French lieutenant and his father after the Christmas Truce had ended. The father was a soldier during a very different time and does not understand WWI. He was ordered to arrest and execute a stray (ownerless) cat for high treason as it carried a good luck note from the Germans. His delivery makes it very clear that even the father, a high ranking member of the French military, thinks the order is ridiculous.
A slight downside (to some) is that the film is made in three languages. As it deals with members of the German, French and English (with Scottish soldiers) armies, the film is made in all three languages with subtitles. I found this to be an excellent move as it makes the filming easier for the actors as well if they do not have to learn lines in a language they do not speak.
One criticism I have is with the priest. At the end of the film, a higher ranking priest (guessing a Cardinal or Bishop) talks to the Scottish priest we have been following and makes it clear that by holding a Christmas Eve service for the men involved in the Christmas truce, the Scottish priest did not follow God's will and has caused those men's regiment to be disbanded. The Cardinal/Bishop (I am neither Catholic nor Anglican and am uneducated regarding Church hierarchy) then proceeds to give a sermon to the replacements and calls the Germans monsters presumably in line with the state mandated propaganda to make the war positive in the eyes of the general public. During the sermon, the Scottish priest takes off his cross and walks out implying he had lost his Faith which makes little sense to me. I have always interpreted that scene as he lost his Faith in the Church rather than God but, the moment felt like it was trying to be vaguely pointed.
Rating: 4/5
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