For most film lovers a'' Christmas movie '' equals sappy crap with talking snowmen, corny romances and a fat capitalistic midget with a beard. Or the endless adaptations of A Christmas Carol.
'' Joyeux Noel '' has a different angle, more mature in every way possible. It's the reconstruction of a forgotten piece of history in which Scottish, French and German soldiers came together from the trenches to celebrate this Christian feast. Their will to be together as humans overcame their grudges and hateful thinking. This is what Christmas is about: being together, and accepting each other for what you are. The tone of the movie is heartwarming and sentimental. And so it should be! There are enough epic war tales about the negative sides of war and their brutalities. This one is focusing on something beautiful without lacking to be be critical towards the concept of war itself.
'' Joyeux Noel '' has a different angle, more mature in every way possible. It's the reconstruction of a forgotten piece of history in which Scottish, French and German soldiers came together from the trenches to celebrate this Christian feast. Their will to be together as humans overcame their grudges and hateful thinking. This is what Christmas is about: being together, and accepting each other for what you are. The tone of the movie is heartwarming and sentimental. And so it should be! There are enough epic war tales about the negative sides of war and their brutalities. This one is focusing on something beautiful without lacking to be be critical towards the concept of war itself.