Un conte de Noël (2008)

Director:

Arnaud Desplechin

Writers:

Arnaud Desplechin (scenario and dialogue) &
Emmanuel Bourdieu (scenario and dialogue)

Release Date:

21 May 2008 (France)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

The Vuillard family is no stranger to physical/mental illness, loss, and banishment. But when the matriarch becomes in need of a transplant, the whole family is forced to come together, emotional baggage and all, just in time for Christmas.

Plot Keywords:

Transplant | Banishment | Christmas | Bone Marrow Transplant | Mother Son Relationship

Awards:

2 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Catherine Deneuve	...	Junon
Jean-Paul Roussillon	...	Abel, Junon's husband
Anne Consigny	...	Elizabeth their oldest child
Mathieu Amalric	...	Henri, their middle child
Melvil Poupaud	...	Ivan, their youngest child
Hippolyte Girardot	...	Claude Elizabeth's husband
Emmanuelle Devos	...	Faunia, Henri's lover
Chiara Mastroianni	...	Sylvia Ivan's wife
Laurent Capelluto	...	Simon Junon's nephew - the painter cousin
Emile Berling	...	Paull, Elizabeth and Claude's son
Thomas Obled	...	Basile, Ivan and Sylvia's son
Clément Obled	...	Baptiste, Ivan and Sylvia's son
Françoise Bertin	...	Rosaimée, Abel's mother's girlfriend
Samir Guesmi	...	Spatafora, the family friend at Roubaix
Azize Kabouche	...	Doctor Zraïdi, the oncologist

Also Known As:

A Christmas Tale (International: English title) (UK) (USA)

Runtime:

France:150 min | USA:150 min | Argentina:150 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:Not Rated | USA:Unrated | UK:15 | Sweden:7 | Netherlands:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:16

Filming Locations:

Roubaix, Nord, France

Company:

Why Not Productions

Goofs:

Continuity: While Henri is at the barber shop being shaven, the shaving cream appears and disappears from his upper lip between shots.

Movie Connections:

Features Funny Face (1957)

very satisfying movie

I can't say I'm a huge fan of Arnaud Despleshin's films, but of all the ones I've seen, this is my favorite. The first few scenes of the movie, with its flashbacks and quick cuts seem disjointed at first, but it does really quickly pull you into the family situation. And when the family does finally arrive altogether at the Vuillard house, you almost feel as if you're one of the guests. All the actors are wonderful, but I must say that Amalric, who almost always plays this type of character in Despleshin films (Kings and Queen, My Sex Life, etc.) is terrific in this film. He's much more likable here. And Emmanuelle Devos has such presence in this movie that she steals pretty much every scene she's in. The rest of the cast, Deneuve, Rousillion and Cosigny are all terrific.

I love how the script deals with so many subjects, not only of the family history and Junon's need for a donor, but also touches on everything from mathematics to philosophy to literature, to all types of music, religion, and all geared towards how all these things enhance, and does not consume, the life of the family. It was very refreshing to see this family, although messed up in so many ways, to live free of convention, children curse, everyone's smoking and/or drinking, telling each other what they really feel and think and/or not feel and think. I also liked that the house felt like a house that people actually lived in.