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 | |
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Bernard Le Coq | ... | Le général Audebert |
Ian Richardson | ... | L'évêque anglais | |
Thomas Schmauser | ... | Le Kronprinz |
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. Written by Kenneth Chisholm (kchishol@rogers.com)
I saw this film the day before Christmas Eve last year and I have to say that it was the highlight of my Christmas. No, I did not have a rubbish holiday - the film just made me realise what Christmas must be like for the people who do not enjoy the relative peace we take for granted.
I cannot think of a single bad thing to say about the film. And this from someone who usually avoids foreign language films like the plague because it annoys me when the words are out of time with the movement of the lips.
I thought that using actors from each of the countries involved in the conflict was a master-stroke and made it all so much more believable. I shed a tear at the end, though I could see why the men needed to be moved from the front having made friends with 'the enemy.' I know that this is going to be a must see film for me every Christmas and I am eagerly awaiting the release of the DVD.