Joyeux Noël (2005)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Christian Carion

Writer:

Christian Carion (written by)

Release Date:

9 November 2005 (France)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | War

Tagline:

France 1914. A moment of humanity that made history.

Plot:

On Christmas Eve during world War I, the Germans, French, and Scottish are trying to make peace, so they bury their dead and play football.

Plot Keywords:

Frontline | School | Prologue | Letter | Anti War

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Diane Kruger	...	Anna Sorensen (as Diane Krüger)
Natalie Dessay	...	Anna Sörensen (singing voice)
Benno Fürmann	...	Nikolaus Sprink
Rolando Villazón	...	Nikolaus Sprink (singing voice) (as Rolando Villazon)
Guillaume Canet	...	Lieutenant Audebert
Gary Lewis	...	Palmer
Dany Boon	...	Ponchel
Daniel Brühl	...	Horstmayer
Lucas Belvaux	...	Gueusselin
Alex Ferns	...	Gordon
Steven Robertson	...	Jonathan
Frank Witter	...	Jorg
Bernard Le Coq	...	General Audebert
Ian Richardson	...	Bishop
Thomas Schmauser	...	Le Kronprinz

Also Known As:

Merry Christmas (UK) (USA)
Happy Christmas (International: English title)

MPAA:

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

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

France | Germany | UK | Belgium | Romania

Language:

French | German | English | Latin

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Australia:M | Ireland:12A | Hong Kong:IIA | Netherlands:12 | Singapore:M18 | Norway:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Zurich) | Singapore:PG (edited version) | Finland:K-11 | USA:PG-13 (re-rating on appeal) | Malaysia:(Banned) | Australia:MA (DVD rating) | Argentina:13 | Sweden:7 | Portugal:M/12 | USA:R (originial rating) | UK:12 (video release) | UK:12A (theatrical release) | Germany:12 (f) | South Korea:15 | Brazil:14

Filming Locations:

France

Company:

Nord-Ouest Productions

Trivia:

When Lieutenant Audebert (Guillaume Canet) compliments Horstmayer (Daniel Brühl) on his French, Horstmayer replies, "No honor in that; your wife is not German." At the time, Guillaume Canet was married to German actress Diane Kruger, who also starred in the film.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the film the musical exchange is prompted by the Scottish troops: in reality, most incidents began with the German troops singing carols from their trenches (but not exposing themselves to the enemy - both sides remained in their trenches) with the opposing troops countering with carols of their own.

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 one Heed not their children's cries Best slay all now, the women, too Or else someday again they'll rise Which if they're dead, they cannot do.
[...]

Movie Connections:

References Paths of Glory (1957)

Soundtrack:

I'm Dreaming of Home

An excellent movie!

I was sceptical before watching this film but by the end I had tears running down my cheeks.

By depicting the feelings and destinies of the soldiers, the film demonstrated the absurdity of war and how each soldier is more than a mere cannon target. It is a commentary on the utter stupidity of politics governing war events from behind curtains while not actually experiencing the real war. By depicting a unique event in European war history that occurred on Christmas day 1914 it shows viewers that Europeans can be as one even as "enemies".

About ten years ago I watched Paul McCartney's video "Pipes of Peace" and thought that what it depicted was completely fictitious--nothing more than pacifists' dreams. I have now learned that it was true.