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Christmas Story

Original title: Joulutarina
  • 20072007
  • PGPG
  • 1h 23m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
4.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Joulutarina (2007)
Trailer for this magical and heart warming holiday film
Play trailer1:04
1 Video
16 Photos
  • Drama
  • Family
  • Fantasy

The touching story of how Santa Claus came to be Santa.The touching story of how Santa Claus came to be Santa.The touching story of how Santa Claus came to be Santa.

IMDb RATING
7.0/10
4.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Juha Wuolijoki
  • Writers
    • Marko Leino(screenplay)
    • Aku Louhimies(story)
    • Juha Wuolijoki(story)
  • Stars
    • Hannu-Pekka Björkman
    • Otto Gustavsson
    • Jonas Rinne
Top credits
  • Director
    • Juha Wuolijoki
  • Writers
    • Marko Leino(screenplay)
    • Aku Louhimies(story)
    • Juha Wuolijoki(story)
  • Stars
    • Hannu-Pekka Björkman
    • Otto Gustavsson
    • Jonas Rinne
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 36User reviews
    • 10Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 5 wins

    Videos1

    Christmas Story
    Trailer 1:04
    Christmas Story

    Photos16

    Joulutarina (2007)
    Joulutarina (2007)
    Joulutarina (2007)
    Joulutarina (2007)
    Joulutarina (2007)
    Hannu-Pekka Björkman and Laura Birn in Joulutarina (2007)
    Hannu-Pekka Björkman in Joulutarina (2007)
    Hannu-Pekka Björkman in Joulutarina (2007)
    Joulutarina (2007)
    Joulutarina (2007)
    Joulutarina (2007)
    Kari Väänänen and Otto Gustavsson in Joulutarina (2007)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Hannu-Pekka Björkman
    • Nikolasas Nikolas
    Otto Gustavsson
    • Nikolas 13-vuotiaanaas Nikolas 13-vuotiaana
    Jonas Rinne
    • Nikolas 7-vuotiaanaas Nikolas 7-vuotiaana
    Kari Väänänen
    Kari Väänänen
    • Iisakkias Iisakki
    Minna Haapkylä
    Minna Haapkylä
    • Kristiinaas Kristiina
    Mikko Leppilampi
    Mikko Leppilampi
    • Hannusas Hannus
    Mikko Kouki
    Mikko Kouki
    • Eemelias Eemeli
    Oskari Heimonen
    • Eemeli 11-vuotiaanaas Eemeli 11-vuotiaana
    Roi Ron
    • Eemeli 5-vuotiaanaas Eemeli 5-vuotiaana
    Laura Birn
    Laura Birn
    • Aadaas Aada
    Nella Siilasmaa
    • Aada 9-vuotiaanaas Aada 9-vuotiaana
    Antti Tuisku
    • Mikkoas Mikko
    Alpo Sipilä
    • Mikko 9-vuotiaanaas Mikko 9-vuotiaana
    Matti Ristinen
    Matti Ristinen
    • Einarias Einari
    Eeva Soivio
    • Aleksandraas Aleksandra
    Mauri Heikkilä
    • Gideonas Gideon
    Pirjo Leppänen
    • Hillaas Hilla
    Saara Pakkasvirta
    • Meerias Meeri
    • Director
      • Juha Wuolijoki
    • Writers
      • Marko Leino(screenplay) (story)
      • Aku Louhimies(story)
      • Juha Wuolijoki(story)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Hundreds of years ago in Lapland, a little boy named Nikolas loses his family in an accident. The villagers decide to look after the orphaned boy together. Once a year - at Christmas - Nikolas moves to a new home. To show his gratitude, Nikolas decides to make toys for the children of the families as good-bye presents. Over the years, Nikolas's former adoptive families become many, and soon almost every house has presents on its doorstep on Christmas morning. At thirteen, Nikolas is sent to live and work with Iisakki, a grumpy old carpenter, who forbids Nikolas to continue making presents for Christmas. Gradually, however, Nikolas wins Iisakki's trust. Together they begin to look after the Christmas traditional that Nikolas has begun. When the aged Iisakki has to leave Nikolas and move away, the tradition of Christmas presents is once again at risk. Thankfully, Nikolas comes up with a solution that brings children joy every Christmas, even continuing to today. —anonymous
    • christmas
    • gift
    • one word title
    • santa claus
    • santa
    • 13 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Family
      • Fantasy
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG for mild thematic elements and brief smoking
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Veteran Finnish actor Kari Vaananen, who plays Santa's accomplice the carpenter Iisakki in the Finnish feature film 'Joulutarina' (aka 'Christmas Story' (2007), previously co-starred in another Yuletide movie about a decade later, portraying Santa Claus in 'Kiwi Christmas' (2018).
    • Connections
      Featured in Starfilm (2017)
    • Soundtracks
      Uusi Päivä
      Es. ja Sov. Markku Lepistö & Co

      Säv. Lassi Logrén

      © Aito Records 2006

    User reviews36

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Christmas Story
    Americans may think Santa Claus lives in North Pole but in Finland everybody knows the truth about his place of residence: he is really from the Korvatunturi fell in Finnish Lapland. Based on this premise is also built Christmas Story, the second feature film of director Juha Wuolijoki who was previously best known for the peculiar culinary TV comedy Gourmet Club (2004) featuring the sturdy Michael Badalucco among others.

    As opposed to presenting later adventures of the Santa we all know, Christmas Story sets out to reveal how he originally became what he is nowadays seen as. At the beginning a young boy named Nikolas (Jonas Rinne) becomes orphaned in Northern Finland sometime in the mid-19th century and the compassionate villagers start taking turns in looking after him, always for one year at a time. The thankful Nikolas takes up secretly leaving small presents for the friendly families every Christmas but upon the arrival of the great famine years, the villagers have no choice but to give the boy in the custody of the seemingly brutal and feared hermit carpenter Iisakki (Kari Väänänen). While learning the secrets of woodwork under the guidance of his strict new master, Nikolas never forgets the good people who once helped him and keeps making new presents for every Christmas.

    I admit I was sceptical about the movie long before seeing it since Christmas movies have a history of being corny cheesefests and this one appeared to be no exception. Things were not helped by the fact that it also marked the acting debut of the highly popular but tremendously charisma-free pop star Antti Tuisku whose involvement felt like a cheap attempt to cater to the masses at the expense of professional casting. Luckily, I was proved wrong: the story is actually pretty down-to-earth and keeps the most obvious tearjerking clichés at arm's length at all times. Kari Väänänen does a great job as the scary Iisakki who is revealed to be a bitter and sad old man under his hateful surface and Hannu-Pekka Björkman is excellent as the heavily bearded adult Nikolas. The kid actor Otto Gustavsson is given a decent-sized role as the 13-year old Nikolas but gives no reasons to complain and Antti Tuisku's role is kept small enough to not get too distracting after all. I really hope the dubbing does not ruin the performances for viewers outside Finland.

    Although the origins of a few obligatory Santa trademarks are of course presented (namely, how he got the reindeer, started dressing in red and became dedicated to his cause), the plot is not concerned with the real folkloristic roots of the historical Sinterklaas. Instead, the main focus is wisely kept on the characters and their development over the many decades the story covers. Nikolas is a thoroughly sympathetic man but can also be seen as a tragic loner driven by an obsession stemming from past traumas. Loneliness, fear of growing old, slipping further and further down into a crazed world of his own... He is not free of problems but fights them in his own way. Eh, maybe I'm digging too deep into the story but hey, isn't that the fun thing about watching movies anyway?

    Technically Christmas Story is "at international level" like we Finns like to say about movies that do not look cozily clumsy and home-baked. The numerous shots of snowy scenery, the softly lit interiors and the elaborate carpentry equipment in Iisakki and Nikolas' workshop look all good and the score by Leri Leskinen is adequately dramatic and expressive throughout, even if also sentimental and overbearing at times. The sole supernatural scene at the end comes closest to the traditional American image of Santa; I am not sure if it fits in the earthy tone that has been maintained in earlier scenes but I guess a flashy finale was needed to ensure the aforementioned feel of "international quality".

    After five rambling paragraphs, all I wanted to say was that I was positively surprised by the movie and think it is a well made holiday season film. It pleasantly avoids promoting consumerism or ramming a corny pro-nuclear family message down the throats of the audience. Perhaps some braver stylization could have raised the movie even higher above mediocre Christmas romp but it is definitely quality family entertainment as it is now too – peaceful, lovable and able to hold the interest of older viewers as well.
    helpful•24
    2
    • random_avenger
    • Dec 20, 2010

    FAQ1

    • Is this movie based off of the book The Christmas Chronicles: The Legend of Santa Claus ?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 16, 2007 (Finland)
    • Country of origin
      • Finland
    • Official site
      • Joulutarina (Finland)
    • Language
      • Finnish
    • Also known as
      • Різдвяна історія
    • Filming locations
      • Turku, Finland
    • Production company
      • Snapper Films Oy
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • €2,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $4,258,430
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 23 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Related news

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    Jan 1ScreenRant.com
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