Joyeux Noel

views updated

Joyeux Noel ★★★ Merry Christmas 2005 (PG-13)

On Christmas Eve, during World War I in France, troops on both sides of the battlefield laid down their weapons in unified holiday spirit for a performance of “Silent Night” by a German soldier, and famed tenor named Sprink, along with his wife. Drinking, cheering, and even some soccer followed, right there in the trenches. This really happened, and it makes for the perfect centerpiece in this postmodern French Christmas miracle movie. WWI is a backdrop to the human turmoil faced by German, French, and Scottish troops at war. An almost ironically surreal melodrama that's just as sad as it is joyous. Nominated for Best Foreign Film Oscar. 110m/C DVD . FR GE GB BE RO Diane Kruger, Benno Furmann, Guillaume Canet, Gary Lewis, Daniel Bruhl, Steven Robertson, Lucas Belvaux, Bernard Le Coq, Ian Richardson, Robin Laing, Suzanne Flon, Michel Serrault, Dany Boon, Alex Ferns, Frank Witter, Thomas Schmauser, Joachim Bissmeier; D: Christian Carion; W: Christian Carion; C: Walther Vanden Ende; M: Philippe Rombi.