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

Did You Know?

Trivia

The character of the Male opera singer is based on that of German tenor Walter Kirchhoff (1879-1951), who travelled to the front in order to perform for the troops. His performance was met by cheers from the French lines, where upon he decided to climb on to no-mans-land to see who was cheering.

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Goofs

Before exiting their trench, the French lieutenant calls for fixing bayonets. Which every soldier does as can be seen. However, when fighting in the German trench, no bayonets can be seen anymore on the rifles.

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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 The 63rd Annual Golden Globe Awards (2006)

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Soundtracks

Ave Maria
Composed by Philippe Rombi
Performed by Natalie Dessay and London Symphony Orchestra

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

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

France Germany UK Belgium Romania Norway Japan USA

Language:

French German English Latin

Release Date:

9 November 2005 (France)

Also Known As:

Merry Christmas

Filming Locations:

Romania

Box Office

Budget:

$22,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$1,054,361

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$17,709,155

Company Credits

Production Co:

Nord-Ouest Films, Senator Film Produktion, The Bureau

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1