Joyeux Noel (2005)

In December 1914, an unofficial Christmas truce on the Western Front allows soldiers from opposing sides of the First World War to gain insight into each other's way of life.

Director:

Christian Carion

Writer:

Christian Carion

Stars:

Diane Kruger, Benno Fürmann, Guillaume Canet

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 6 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Diane Kruger	...	Anna Sörensen (as Diane Krüger)
Natalie Dessay	...	Anna Sörensen (singing voice)
Benno Fürmann	...	Nikolaus Sprink
Rolando Villazón	...	Nikolaus Sprink (singing voice) (as Rolando Villazon)
Guillaume Canet	...	Le lieutenant Audebert
Gary Lewis	...	le pasteur Palmer
Dany Boon	...	Ponchel
Daniel Brühl	...	le lieutenant Horstmayer
Lucas Belvaux	...	Gueusselin
Alex Ferns	...	Le lieutenant Gordon
Steven Robertson	...	Jonathan
Frank Witter	...	Jörg - un soldat allemand
Bernard Le Coq	...	Le général Audebert
Ian Richardson	...	L'évêque anglais
Thomas Schmauser	...	Le Kronprinz

Storyline

In 1914, World War I, the bloodiest war ever at that time in human history, was well under way. However on Christmas Eve, numerous sections of the Western Front called an informal, and unauthorized, truce where the various front-line soldiers of the conflict peacefully met each other in No Man's Land to share a precious pause in the carnage with a fleeting brotherhood. This film dramatizes one such section as the French, Scottish and German sides partake in the unique event, even though they are aware that their superiors will not tolerate its occurrence.

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Plot Keywords:

soldier | christmas | world war one | truce | christmas eve | 

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Taglines:

Christmas Eve, 1914. On a World War I battlefield, a Momentous Event changed the lives of soldiers from France, Germany and England.

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Genres:

Drama | History | Music | Romance | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 on appeal for some war violence and a brief scene of sexuality/nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Official site UGC Distribution / Nord-Ouest Production [France]

Country:

France Germany UK Belgium Romania Norway Japan USA

Language:

French German English Latin

Release Date:

9 November 2005 (France)

Also Known As:

Joyeux Noel

Filming Locations:

Romania

Box Office

Budget:

$22,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$3,413,005 (France), 11 November 2005

Opening Weekend USA:

$42,732, 5 March 2006, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$1,054,361, 6 July 2006

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$16,589,013, 14 November 2006

Company Credits

Production Co:

Nord-Ouest Productions,Senator Film Produktion,The Bureau

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The football match depicted was probably inspired by the documented game between the 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh Fusiliers and the Saxon Infantry who played football on Christmas Day 1914. In 2008 the British and German Armies sent teams France to play a game of football in honour of their predecessors.

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Goofs

When the three commanders meet and discuss their wives, the French commander says he lost the photo of his wife and shows a sketch. The German commander recognizes the sketch of the woman from a photo that is inside a wallet he found on the battlefield (and subsequently returns the wallet to the French officer). However, in the beginning of the film, the French commander is looking at that photo. In the shot, the photo is of both the commander and his wife. If the German officer can recognize the wife from a sketch, surely he would recognize the French commander when seeing him in person?

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Quotes

[first lines]
Enfant francais: Child, upon these maps do heed This black stain to be effaced Omitting it, you would proceed Yet better it in red to trace Later, whatever may come to pass Promise there to go you must To fetch the children of Alsace Reaching out their arms to us May in our fondest France Hope's green saplings to branch And in you, dear child, flower Grow, grow, France awaits its hour.
Enfant anglais: To rid the map of every trace Of Germany and of the Hun We must exterminate that race We must not leave a single ...
[...]

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Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: 16 Blocks/Sorry, Haters/Aquamarine/Dave Chappelle's Block Party/Joyeux Noel/Curious George/London (2006)

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Soundtracks

I'm Dreaming of Home
(end titles)
Written by Philippe Rombi
Performed by Chorale Scala and London Symphony Orchestra with Philippe Rombi (piano)

User Reviews

Powerful and must see

A truly powerful and must see film about the futility of war.

It depicts that whatever those in power would have us believe there are more similarities between various nationalities than differences.

Wonderful performances by many little known actors.

First class cinematography and other production values.

Illustrates that there can be no war if if if you have no enemy. It is impossible to kill a man with whom you have shared drinks and stories and grown to like

Wonderful music and singing as those who have suffered and fought each other in the trenches slowly gather to mark Christmas Eve by drinking and talking with each other, swapping addresses, singing Christmas carols common to all three nations (Germany, France and Scotland), burying frozen corpses and playing soccer together.

Not perfectly historically accurate but very close to an actual incident, A vivid illustration of the foolishness of war. While some have laid the blame at the feet it is clear that the primary blame lays with those who order others to go to war while safely enjoying the better of things far from the trenches