This very touching story about a true occurrence during the first Christmas of the Great War is very moving. Although the truce was not a generalized event, it did happen in quite a few areas all along the front line. It was the only moment of sanity in an otherwise gruesome experience in futility. Twenty years later, these same countries would be at it again.Karl Marx said that wars are awful events pitting ordinary people (proletariats) one against another for the benefit of the wealthy, the powerful, the aristocrats. This aspect is depicted very well in this movie. I would just like to add a footnote: Alfred Anderson, the last survivor of the Christmas Truce of 1914 died November 21th, 2005 at a nursing home in his native Scotland. He was 109 years old. Lest we forget.
174 Reviews
Why did it take 90 years to put this on the silver screen?
t-schwarz25 November 2005
Warning: Spoilers
About three years ago, I read about this story in a magazine. I instantly contacted a friend who is a film producer and told him about what I thought would have to be a wonderful movie. Although he told me that some others were already planning to do this, my hunch was right. Great story, great film, although I agree that both Führmann and Krüger aren't exactly doing a good job when they are dubbing the touching soprano's and tenor's voices. I wouldn't actually say that she's bad, but for a woman confronted at the same time with the horrors of the trenches and the human spirit's ability to overcome them, while trying to save her lover from this place, her performance is not, well, particularly emotional.
Bizarrely, even for Germany, the version released to cinemas across the country this week is almost entirely dubbed in German. This, I might say, adds some strange kind of comedy when ordinary soldiers from the trenches act like they don't understand the other while both speaking perfect German. On the other hand, it makes the German lieutenant, who actually speaks both English and French look overly ridiculous when he tries to utter "chouette".
There are so many memorable moments in this film it is hard to come up with them all, even immediately after leaving the theatre. But I particularly loved the opening scene in which three little boys, in Germany, France, and Britain respectively, are standing in front of a blackboard and are repeating the jingoist everyday rhetoric of the day, and the scene in which the church leader is preaching to new Scottish troops that they are on a crusade against evil, right after he "fired" the field priest for performing the Christmas mass with the soldiers who fraternised with each other.
In any other context, I would have said this is over the top, too open a reference to the religiously influenced jingoist rhetoric of certain world leaders of this day - but I'm pretty sure it's an accurate reflection of the indoctrination of 1914-1945. And that's even more scary.
Bizarrely, even for Germany, the version released to cinemas across the country this week is almost entirely dubbed in German. This, I might say, adds some strange kind of comedy when ordinary soldiers from the trenches act like they don't understand the other while both speaking perfect German. On the other hand, it makes the German lieutenant, who actually speaks both English and French look overly ridiculous when he tries to utter "chouette".
There are so many memorable moments in this film it is hard to come up with them all, even immediately after leaving the theatre. But I particularly loved the opening scene in which three little boys, in Germany, France, and Britain respectively, are standing in front of a blackboard and are repeating the jingoist everyday rhetoric of the day, and the scene in which the church leader is preaching to new Scottish troops that they are on a crusade against evil, right after he "fired" the field priest for performing the Christmas mass with the soldiers who fraternised with each other.
In any other context, I would have said this is over the top, too open a reference to the religiously influenced jingoist rhetoric of certain world leaders of this day - but I'm pretty sure it's an accurate reflection of the indoctrination of 1914-1945. And that's even more scary.
This is a wonderful, moving film showing humankind at its best
adeej2 January 2006
Wow! Joyeux Noel was a great movie. I wasn't sure if I was going to like this film but found it to be moving, heartwarming and a wonderful cinematic experience.
The fact that the story is based on real events that happened shows that their is some good in humans across the world. In this story, all sides are respected as humans and the soldiers come to understand that under God, we are all one.
Please, even if you don't normally go to foreign language films or war movies, go to this film. The war scenes are not prolific. You will come out changed and smiling from the inside out!
The fact that the story is based on real events that happened shows that their is some good in humans across the world. In this story, all sides are respected as humans and the soldiers come to understand that under God, we are all one.
Please, even if you don't normally go to foreign language films or war movies, go to this film. The war scenes are not prolific. You will come out changed and smiling from the inside out!
An excellent movie!
kaplunv25 December 2005
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.
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.
The Power of Song as a Gateway of Understanding
gradyharp16 November 2006
Writer/director Christian Carion ('Une hirondelle a fait le printemps' aka 'The Girl from Paris') is unafraid to write and create cinematic tales that touch the heart as well as the mind. 'Joyeux Noël' is a story of war and its effects on soldiers that goes far beyond sentimentality (or the opposite emphasis on brutality as found in American films) and offers the viewer insights to the responses of young men's minds to the monster of war and how they cope.
Based on a true story, the film opens with the usual callous killing among three groups of soldiers - German, French, and Scottish - who face an oncoming Christmas Eve in the trenches, the realities of fighting have precluded their getting time to retreat for air. But a miracle happens: among the Germans is a famous opera tenor Nikolaus Sprink (Benno Fürmann) who has aligned with his fellow troops in the trenches, hoping he can bring some minor sense of Christmas and understanding to them. His soprano partner Anna Sorensen (Diane Kruger) finds a way to be with him in the trenches on Christmas Eve, 1914. Meanwhile the disgruntle troops of all three sectors are planning meager festivities and a bit of relaxation even in the trenches as the bodies of the day's plunder lie in the snow of no man's land. We get to know the French Lieutenant Audebert (Guillaume Canet) and his orderly Ponchel (Dany Boon), the German head of the regiment Horstmayer (Daniel Brühl), and the Scots - especially the priest/medic Palmer (Gary Lewis).
Christmas Eve comes and the voice of Sprink (in reality the tenor Rolando Villazón) sings 'Stille Nacht', rising out of the trenches to sing in the open of no man's land. Soon he is accompanied by the Scottish bagpipes and the 'chorus' of the Germans, the Scots and the French. They all emerge, share gifts of champagne and other libations, and agree to a cease-fire in honor of the holiday. It is in this magic moment that the true personalities of these warring men surface and each is seen as a vulnerable puppet of the WW I, exchanging addresses to meet after the war. Anna Sorenson has managed to enter the scene and during a communal mass led by Palmer she sings (the voice is Natalie Dessay) an Ave Maria (composed by the film's composer Philippe Rombi): the lovers have previously sung a duet version of Bach's 'Bist du bei mir'. For that moment in time the horrors of war melt and the camaraderie of the men glows and is carried into Christmas Day when all three groups of soldiers agree to bury their dead together. Of course the brutality and ignorance of war re-engages and the leaders of the three groups enter camp and threaten courts martial and punishment for the troops' lack of military discipline. The film ends in a manner that leaves the audience able to integrate the happenings of that Christmas Eve on the futures of these men.
The script is superb, the cast is uniformly excellent, the sets and cinematography are creatively moody, and the musical score by Philippe Rombi is one of the finest in years: the ending song 'I'm Dreaming of Home' deserves to become a standard. Would that everyone could see this film, a bit of global hope in the cloud of the destruction that shadows our world right now. Highly recommended. Grady Harp
Based on a true story, the film opens with the usual callous killing among three groups of soldiers - German, French, and Scottish - who face an oncoming Christmas Eve in the trenches, the realities of fighting have precluded their getting time to retreat for air. But a miracle happens: among the Germans is a famous opera tenor Nikolaus Sprink (Benno Fürmann) who has aligned with his fellow troops in the trenches, hoping he can bring some minor sense of Christmas and understanding to them. His soprano partner Anna Sorensen (Diane Kruger) finds a way to be with him in the trenches on Christmas Eve, 1914. Meanwhile the disgruntle troops of all three sectors are planning meager festivities and a bit of relaxation even in the trenches as the bodies of the day's plunder lie in the snow of no man's land. We get to know the French Lieutenant Audebert (Guillaume Canet) and his orderly Ponchel (Dany Boon), the German head of the regiment Horstmayer (Daniel Brühl), and the Scots - especially the priest/medic Palmer (Gary Lewis).
Christmas Eve comes and the voice of Sprink (in reality the tenor Rolando Villazón) sings 'Stille Nacht', rising out of the trenches to sing in the open of no man's land. Soon he is accompanied by the Scottish bagpipes and the 'chorus' of the Germans, the Scots and the French. They all emerge, share gifts of champagne and other libations, and agree to a cease-fire in honor of the holiday. It is in this magic moment that the true personalities of these warring men surface and each is seen as a vulnerable puppet of the WW I, exchanging addresses to meet after the war. Anna Sorenson has managed to enter the scene and during a communal mass led by Palmer she sings (the voice is Natalie Dessay) an Ave Maria (composed by the film's composer Philippe Rombi): the lovers have previously sung a duet version of Bach's 'Bist du bei mir'. For that moment in time the horrors of war melt and the camaraderie of the men glows and is carried into Christmas Day when all three groups of soldiers agree to bury their dead together. Of course the brutality and ignorance of war re-engages and the leaders of the three groups enter camp and threaten courts martial and punishment for the troops' lack of military discipline. The film ends in a manner that leaves the audience able to integrate the happenings of that Christmas Eve on the futures of these men.
The script is superb, the cast is uniformly excellent, the sets and cinematography are creatively moody, and the musical score by Philippe Rombi is one of the finest in years: the ending song 'I'm Dreaming of Home' deserves to become a standard. Would that everyone could see this film, a bit of global hope in the cloud of the destruction that shadows our world right now. Highly recommended. Grady Harp
The miracle continued
harry_tk_yung25 December 2005
Warning: Spoilers
The trailer gave me the impression that the events on Christmas Eve is the grand finale of the movie so when I saw that scene coming just about an hour into the movie, I was a little surprised, happily so. The miracle continued into Christmas day, and beyond.
But I must back up a little and plead ignorance. The miraculous events that took place on Christmas Eve in 1914 may not be as widely known to the world as some might think. This was the European arena of the first "World War", which was in fact essentially a European war, a war that means far less than WWII to the world outside Europe, even English speaking North America and Australia. And after all, it's over 90 years ago.
The story is unquestionably worth telling and judging from the unadorned style of the storytelling, it would seem that it was told quite truthfully. The sweeping panoramic aerial shot and grandiose music at the start conjures up sort of a Lord of the Rings feeling, but it gets down to earth soon, introducing the key characters and bringing the audience to the battlefield.
While the events were the best manifestation of the Christmas spirit, there is also a embedded love of music which, strangely, brought to my mind the "banjo duet" scene in "Deliverence". Far-fetched as it may sound, there are similarities in having music as the bridge that breaks the ice of communication.
Happening over 90 years ago, this is a miracle founded on a common Christianity heritage, which traverse national and language barriers. The movie makers did make a small point that it was beyond Christianity, by showing how a Jewish German soldier was moved. It is also realistic that the miracle did not touch every single person - for the Scottish soldier, the loss of a beloved brother was just too great.
But it was heart-warming that the miracle did not stop at the magical Christmas Eve, but continued on into the glaring reality of the bright Christmas Day, and beyond, in a relatively simpler world at the turn of the last century. Today, a miracle of this magnitude would require a lot more. It would be a huge challenge to just write a fictional script, let alone find a true story. I am hoping that Steven Spielberg will take up this challenge.
But I must back up a little and plead ignorance. The miraculous events that took place on Christmas Eve in 1914 may not be as widely known to the world as some might think. This was the European arena of the first "World War", which was in fact essentially a European war, a war that means far less than WWII to the world outside Europe, even English speaking North America and Australia. And after all, it's over 90 years ago.
The story is unquestionably worth telling and judging from the unadorned style of the storytelling, it would seem that it was told quite truthfully. The sweeping panoramic aerial shot and grandiose music at the start conjures up sort of a Lord of the Rings feeling, but it gets down to earth soon, introducing the key characters and bringing the audience to the battlefield.
While the events were the best manifestation of the Christmas spirit, there is also a embedded love of music which, strangely, brought to my mind the "banjo duet" scene in "Deliverence". Far-fetched as it may sound, there are similarities in having music as the bridge that breaks the ice of communication.
Happening over 90 years ago, this is a miracle founded on a common Christianity heritage, which traverse national and language barriers. The movie makers did make a small point that it was beyond Christianity, by showing how a Jewish German soldier was moved. It is also realistic that the miracle did not touch every single person - for the Scottish soldier, the loss of a beloved brother was just too great.
But it was heart-warming that the miracle did not stop at the magical Christmas Eve, but continued on into the glaring reality of the bright Christmas Day, and beyond, in a relatively simpler world at the turn of the last century. Today, a miracle of this magnitude would require a lot more. It would be a huge challenge to just write a fictional script, let alone find a true story. I am hoping that Steven Spielberg will take up this challenge.
A fleeting moment of humanity in the trenches.
michaelRokeefe17 December 2006
Warning: Spoilers
This is an unbelievable true-life story of a spontaneous truce on Christmas Eve during WWI. The Scottish, French and German troops in the trenches stop their fighting each other to celebrate Christmas together. This holiday cease-fire allows these warriors of war a few fleeting moments to redeem themselves and prove there is some humanity amid battle. The co-mingled troops celebrate the birth of Christ, as well as taking care to bury their dead comrades. Peace and goodwill abruptly fade behind the sounds of rifle fire and bombs.
Credit Christian Carion for writing and directing this uplifting must-see film. Visually sweeping. The cast features: Diane Kruger, Benno Furmann, Gullaume Canet, Bernard Le Coq, Daniel Bruhl and Gary Lewis.
Credit Christian Carion for writing and directing this uplifting must-see film. Visually sweeping. The cast features: Diane Kruger, Benno Furmann, Gullaume Canet, Bernard Le Coq, Daniel Bruhl and Gary Lewis.
The Folly and the Ivy
Ali_John_Catterall16 October 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Zut alors! WW1 drama Joyeux Noel arrives under a big black wintry cloud, having been selected to represent France in the Best Foreign Language Film category over the much-hyped March of the Penguins at the 2006 Oscars. Insane, they said! It can't be done, they said! As co-producer Jean-Francois Camilleri fumed, Penguins (France's most successful export at the US box office) was "finally a foreign film that Americans love. It just proves the stupidity of French politics in this profession."
Well, sour raisons to yeaux and yeaux and yeaux: unwanted child Joyeux Noel is a joy from start to finish and should hold its head up high against those rambler birdies in dinner jackets.Mostly, we should give thanks and praises that Ron Howard didn't get his hands on it first.
Here's a more-or-less authentic account of that near-mythical Christmas in 1914, when Scottish, French and German soldiers proclaimed a temporary armistice, swapped champagne and cigarettes and played footie together ("looks like trouble for the Jerries", a Scottish soldier observes wryly, like a dug-in Des Lynam). From the sickening horror of No Man's Land, to the elegiac carolling of the bagpipes - and the almost off-hand revelation that Bruhl's German captain is Jewish - everything here is perfectly judged.
There's humour here too, albeit of the slightly mordant variety, and even the appearance of a local French farmyard cat, claimed by each side as their own, doesn't upset the potentially fatal juggling act.
In the midst of this, a living snow angel (Kruger) delivers an ice-melting burst of opera, the impact of which you can blame on a bad cold. The denouement, in which the troops are judged by the superior officers as having been guilty of "high treason" is underscored only by an excoriating sermon by Ian Richardson's Bishop who, far from applauding his priest's generosity of spirit (having delivered "the most important mass I ever gave"), reminds his chastened men that Christ came "not with Peace but with a sword"; that these Godless Germans should be cut down, every man, woman and child. Subtle it ain't, but it does act as a sobering reminder of the Church's culpability in both World Wars.
Ultimately, Joyeux Noel achieves the near-impossible, by keeping the treacle to a minimum while leaving one in no doubt about the finer aspects of humanity. Utterly magical.
Well, sour raisons to yeaux and yeaux and yeaux: unwanted child Joyeux Noel is a joy from start to finish and should hold its head up high against those rambler birdies in dinner jackets.Mostly, we should give thanks and praises that Ron Howard didn't get his hands on it first.
Here's a more-or-less authentic account of that near-mythical Christmas in 1914, when Scottish, French and German soldiers proclaimed a temporary armistice, swapped champagne and cigarettes and played footie together ("looks like trouble for the Jerries", a Scottish soldier observes wryly, like a dug-in Des Lynam). From the sickening horror of No Man's Land, to the elegiac carolling of the bagpipes - and the almost off-hand revelation that Bruhl's German captain is Jewish - everything here is perfectly judged.
There's humour here too, albeit of the slightly mordant variety, and even the appearance of a local French farmyard cat, claimed by each side as their own, doesn't upset the potentially fatal juggling act.
In the midst of this, a living snow angel (Kruger) delivers an ice-melting burst of opera, the impact of which you can blame on a bad cold. The denouement, in which the troops are judged by the superior officers as having been guilty of "high treason" is underscored only by an excoriating sermon by Ian Richardson's Bishop who, far from applauding his priest's generosity of spirit (having delivered "the most important mass I ever gave"), reminds his chastened men that Christ came "not with Peace but with a sword"; that these Godless Germans should be cut down, every man, woman and child. Subtle it ain't, but it does act as a sobering reminder of the Church's culpability in both World Wars.
Ultimately, Joyeux Noel achieves the near-impossible, by keeping the treacle to a minimum while leaving one in no doubt about the finer aspects of humanity. Utterly magical.
Merry Christmas is wonderful, yet disposable entertainment...
oggsmoggs2 December 2005
On Christmas eve in the First World War, an unexpected truce was agreed upon by the warring French, Germans, and the Scotsman contingent of the British army. The truce began when ex-tenor turned German private Sprink (Benno Furmann) gave an apt rendition of "Silent Night" which the Scotsmen quickly offered to accompany with their bagpipes. Feeling the Christmas spirit despite their hometown being invaded by the Germans, the French agreed to celebrate Christmas eve with their enemies. Undeniably schmaltzy and melodramatic, Merry Christmas seems to be doomed to be in the company of other schmaltzy films like Pay it Forward or Benigni's Life is Beautiful. However, one has to look beyond the evident schmaltziness and keep one's cynicism at an all-time low to truly enjoy the film, which I thought was decently made and truly touching. After all, one cannot fault writer-director Christian Carion as the film was based on recorded events that truly happened during World War I. I think Carion tried his best to make the film as grounded and as realistic as possible although sometimes his screenplay gets a bit too oratorical and his direction gets a bit too overhanded with his overuse of the musical score. Carion promptly neutralizes the fuzzy feelings that are generated by warring men playing football and poker on Christmas Day by immediately portraying the sad repercussions of the men's fraternizing with their enemies. I thought that was a very welcome addition to bring back the audience from its suspension of disbelief to a more realistic ground that despite the innate humanity in everyone's heart, politics and the irrationalities of war still determine the fates of these men. There are also some technical aspects that I feel could've been polished a bit more. The lipsynching of the songs is quite obvious and very distracting especially since its hard to believe that Diane Kruger can belt out those high and strong note with her anorexic frame. Merry Christmas is wonderful, yet disposable entertainment. It is France's submission to the Oscars and I wouldn't be surprised if it gets a nod as it possesses almost everything that the Oscars want - a war film, with themes of peace and humanity, and of course the resulting emotion of fuzziness and pride for one's humanity. ***1/2/*****
Destined to be a Christmas classic
gerrystakes17 November 2005
Thanks to a special showing as one of the events to mark the centenary of the Alliance Française in Canada's capital, I had the privilege of attending a North American premiere of this remarkable film just two days before today Remembrance Day (Veterans Day in the U.S.) Both an appropriate theme and a cinematic Christmas gift come early. I think it may become my top film among several hundred seen this year, just as A Very Long Engagement - also set in the trenches of the First World War - captured my heart and critic's choice last December. Writer-director Christian Carion and all the actors do an amazing job in this multi-country Euro co-production. It should appeal not only to audiences across that continent but to film goers around the world. In addition to presenting a parable from real life relevant for any war-torn age, including our own I might add, Carion works wonders with front-line incidents great and small while drawing compelling individual character portraits from a top notch Scots, French and German cast, each speaking in their native language and accents. That goes for even relatively smaller roles: for example, that of the junior German officer at the front, Lieutenant Horstmayer (ironically a Jew who recalls a Paris honeymoon with his French-speaking wife), as played by the superb young actor Daniel Brühl (Goodbye Lenin, The Edukators). There is so much more that could be said about this remarkable and timely movie with a timeless message. Even had France not chosen Joyeux Nöel as its selection for the 2006 Oscar best foreign-language film category, I would herald it and rejoice in the advent of a new classic that is in another class altogether from the general run of "holiday movies". A story of harsh truths as well as transcendent art, it finds humanity and hope in the midst of battlefield horrors. Seasonal glad tidings indeed!
Something Different...
zeno-1415 June 2005
Warning: Spoilers
I saw this film at the screening in Cannes this year. It is a very interesting take on the sometimes over-exploited themes of war so apparent in modern cinema, and calls up memories of "Life is Beautiful". Here you find three lines of soldiers - Germans, French and Scotts - forced to fight a war they don't understand and finally giving in to their own human feelings of friendship and well-being when German singers start to perform Christmas carols between the trenches. It is nice to know that human nature is described here not as a nature of war, but through the immediate aim for peace in these soldiers who all suffer the consequences of their respectively "destructive" acts of fraternization as seen by their own governments.
There are many bittersweet and undeniably brilliant scenes here, but there was one problem I had with this film. It is told in three languages (French, German and English) with subtitles and It was sometimes clear to me, being fluent in German and English and understanding French enough, that the director had problem with these foreign languages himself. In fact, he does not speak either German or English sufficiently to be able to direct certain ways of speaking correctly, having to rely on his assistants to help him and therefore the German and English dialoques sound extremely wooden and unnatural. Even the usually great Daniel Brühl has trouble convincing me with his performance and Diane Kruger proves once more that she is simply not made for acting. The scenes where she performs songs are sometimes so badly dubbed (and therefore it is clear that she is not really performing herself) and performed with such lack of emotion that it was becoming ridiculous.
Anyway, a nice movie with some language and acting issues, but worth seeing.
There are many bittersweet and undeniably brilliant scenes here, but there was one problem I had with this film. It is told in three languages (French, German and English) with subtitles and It was sometimes clear to me, being fluent in German and English and understanding French enough, that the director had problem with these foreign languages himself. In fact, he does not speak either German or English sufficiently to be able to direct certain ways of speaking correctly, having to rely on his assistants to help him and therefore the German and English dialoques sound extremely wooden and unnatural. Even the usually great Daniel Brühl has trouble convincing me with his performance and Diane Kruger proves once more that she is simply not made for acting. The scenes where she performs songs are sometimes so badly dubbed (and therefore it is clear that she is not really performing herself) and performed with such lack of emotion that it was becoming ridiculous.
Anyway, a nice movie with some language and acting issues, but worth seeing.
Powerful and must see
gcnicho18 December 2005
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
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
Surprisingly .....boring
XeniaisGod27 November 2006
This film manages to render potentially fascinating true events into a story that is, in a word - boring.
The characters were one-dimensional and the acting, excepting that of Guillaume Canet and Daniel Brühl, ranged from forgettable to plain bad. Benno Fürmann was especially wooden, and Diane Krüger came across as a silly twit. The Scotsmen were portrayed as, well, "jolly good Scots" and not very bright. Suffice it to say that too many characters were annoying, and as a viewer, I wanted to slap them after a short while.
The film itself sunk into Hollywood depths of cheese, which shouldn't have happened in a Euro telling of this subject matter.
Very disappointing.
The characters were one-dimensional and the acting, excepting that of Guillaume Canet and Daniel Brühl, ranged from forgettable to plain bad. Benno Fürmann was especially wooden, and Diane Krüger came across as a silly twit. The Scotsmen were portrayed as, well, "jolly good Scots" and not very bright. Suffice it to say that too many characters were annoying, and as a viewer, I wanted to slap them after a short while.
The film itself sunk into Hollywood depths of cheese, which shouldn't have happened in a Euro telling of this subject matter.
Very disappointing.
Disappointing
Caz196419 November 2007
I had been looking forward to seeing this film for a long time and when i finally managed to get a copy on DVD i couldn't wait to watch it only to be really disappointed. Joeux Noel doesn't show any of the true horrors of WW1,the trenches look far to clean there's no mud, rats,lethal barbed wire,hardly any carnage or dead mutilated bodies,not that i partically want to see that,but if this film is depicting WW1 then this is what you would expect to see because thats how it really was.The soldiers look far too bright and fresh and don't at all seem exhausted and fatigued or battle weary so it just doesn't convince that they have been fighting in a horrific war.For instance not one of them had shell shock when in reality many of them by that point would have had. Because the film plays down the true horrors of war, when the actual scenes of the Christmas Truce happen it just doesn't seem to mean much,and its all very sudden there's no big build up and not much apprehension,as in reality the soldiers at first believed it was a trick,so they didn't all rush out to shake hands with the Germans as this film suggests. Then what really ruins it for me is the female opera singer who is living in the German trenches who then comes out to sing{mime}to all the soldiers she is all elegantly dressed and of all
things she is wearing a bright red cape,how ridiculous is that.I know its good to stretch your imagination a bit but this is just going to far,there is no way she would have been allowed in the German trenches or any one else's for that matter,and this for me is where the story loses all credibility it just becomes more fiction which is a shame because there really is a good story to be told here.I've been interested in the Christmas Truce for years and have watched many documentaries about it and always thought it would make a great film,however this one just doesn't do it. The Truce scene in Oh What A Lovely War handles the subject much better even if it is for only ten minutes, it captures the atmosphere perfectly and is memorable,this one sadly isn't.
things she is wearing a bright red cape,how ridiculous is that.I know its good to stretch your imagination a bit but this is just going to far,there is no way she would have been allowed in the German trenches or any one else's for that matter,and this for me is where the story loses all credibility it just becomes more fiction which is a shame because there really is a good story to be told here.I've been interested in the Christmas Truce for years and have watched many documentaries about it and always thought it would make a great film,however this one just doesn't do it. The Truce scene in Oh What A Lovely War handles the subject much better even if it is for only ten minutes, it captures the atmosphere perfectly and is memorable,this one sadly isn't.
Christmas won't be Christmas...
jane-hare27 June 2006
I saw this film the day before Christmas Eve last year and I have to say that it was the highlight of my Christmas. No, I did not have a rubbish holiday - the film just made me realise what Christmas must be like for the people who do not enjoy the relative peace we take for granted.
I cannot think of a single bad thing to say about the film. And this from someone who usually avoids foreign language films like the plague because it annoys me when the words are out of time with the movement of the lips.
I thought that using actors from each of the countries involved in the conflict was a master-stroke and made it all so much more believable. I shed a tear at the end, though I could see why the men needed to be moved from the front having made friends with 'the enemy.' I know that this is going to be a must see film for me every Christmas and I am eagerly awaiting the release of the DVD.
I cannot think of a single bad thing to say about the film. And this from someone who usually avoids foreign language films like the plague because it annoys me when the words are out of time with the movement of the lips.
I thought that using actors from each of the countries involved in the conflict was a master-stroke and made it all so much more believable. I shed a tear at the end, though I could see why the men needed to be moved from the front having made friends with 'the enemy.' I know that this is going to be a must see film for me every Christmas and I am eagerly awaiting the release of the DVD.
a new xmas classic
damienmuldoon22 December 2005
I have always had an interest in WW1 and when I discovered that a film about that conflict was being released, I knew I'd have to see it as soon as possible. This is a very special movie. Telling the story of the extraordinary Christmas truce between waring soldiers in the trenches at Christmas 1914, it demonstrates just how ludicrous war really is and how the human spirit can overcome blind hatred. Performances, cinematography and direction don't really matter in this film. Though all these elements are of a high quality. What's important about this film is its message. It is a "feel good movie" with a difference. The difference is that the plot is based on a true event.
It is sure to become a fixture on Christmas T.V. listings over the coming years. But go and see it now. Particularly if, like me, your beginning to get cynical about this time of the year.
It is sure to become a fixture on Christmas T.V. listings over the coming years. But go and see it now. Particularly if, like me, your beginning to get cynical about this time of the year.
Historical fiction
jackjack-221 March 2007
The movie is inspired by a true story about a Christmas Eve truce in 1914 during World War I between the Germans and the English but the story is badly distorted in the movie. Actually there were numerous such truces. None were ever sanctioned by the commanders but contrary to what occurred in the movie, no one was ever censured or punished.
Such truces often occur in warfare when two armies face each other during long periods of time in trench warfare. As a Marine Lieutenant in Korea, we had such truces with the Chinese on two occasions, one of which is recorded in one history of the Marines in Korea. In both cases we had been been in trenches opposite each other and the Chinese initiated the truces. Every night we were serenaded by a woman who would also blast us with propaganda and on the two occasions, she invited us to have a truce beginning at dawn the next day ending at sunset. We always wondered where she was during the night so that we could shell her but during the truces, she would come out during day and serenade us. Thus, we found out where she broadcast from and a couple op days after our last truce, we shelled the spot. We never heard form her again and there were no more truces. One of the reasons we agreed to the truces was that it gave each side a chance to recover the bodies and that was the main reason. Moreover, both on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the Chinese shelled the hell out of us.
The movie really takes license with the Christmas truce. It would never have happened the way it did in the movie. No woman would have ever been permitted to get close to the front lines and enemy troops would never been allowed in the opposing trenches. No one was that stupid. and one Christmas Carol that was not sung in the movie was O' Tannenbaum or Christmas tree which actually was sung and very popular with the Germans.
For those who want to know more about what really happened I suggest they go to the following Website: http://history1900s.about.com/od/1910s/a/christmastruce.htm Even with all its flaws, I still think it was a good movie. It would have been better if they had left the woman out of the story.
Such truces often occur in warfare when two armies face each other during long periods of time in trench warfare. As a Marine Lieutenant in Korea, we had such truces with the Chinese on two occasions, one of which is recorded in one history of the Marines in Korea. In both cases we had been been in trenches opposite each other and the Chinese initiated the truces. Every night we were serenaded by a woman who would also blast us with propaganda and on the two occasions, she invited us to have a truce beginning at dawn the next day ending at sunset. We always wondered where she was during the night so that we could shell her but during the truces, she would come out during day and serenade us. Thus, we found out where she broadcast from and a couple op days after our last truce, we shelled the spot. We never heard form her again and there were no more truces. One of the reasons we agreed to the truces was that it gave each side a chance to recover the bodies and that was the main reason. Moreover, both on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the Chinese shelled the hell out of us.
The movie really takes license with the Christmas truce. It would never have happened the way it did in the movie. No woman would have ever been permitted to get close to the front lines and enemy troops would never been allowed in the opposing trenches. No one was that stupid. and one Christmas Carol that was not sung in the movie was O' Tannenbaum or Christmas tree which actually was sung and very popular with the Germans.
For those who want to know more about what really happened I suggest they go to the following Website: http://history1900s.about.com/od/1910s/a/christmastruce.htm Even with all its flaws, I still think it was a good movie. It would have been better if they had left the woman out of the story.
Carols in the trenches
jotix1001 April 2006
Warning: Spoilers
"Joyeux Noel" integrates a large European cast as the film explores the Christmas Eve truce of 1914, something that has been documented in other films about WWI. Where writer/director Christian Carion succeeds is in the way he presents the material for the screen.
We are taken to the trenches, where German, French, and Scottish troops are seen fighting a fierce battle in which the Germans are showing a superior advantage from their side. During the exchange many soldiers die and are left in the snow covered field as the troops regroup to consider what kind of action to take.
In the spirit of the Christmas holidays the men from each faction are given extra rations, ornaments, and even trees and liquor from each of their countries to celebrate the occasion. It's a wonder to see the German side awash with small trees that are lit and raised over the edge of their trenches. Suddenly, there is the sound of music everywhere and the commanders of each faction come together to declare a cease fire so the men can celebrate Christmas Eve.
It's at this point that the main point of the film is made, as the terrible war seems to recede and all the men come together to rejoice, more like friends, than enemies. It's a lovely moment in which peace on earth seems to be achievable.
As all this is happening, Anna Sorenson, a talented singer, comes to the German side to be reunited with her tenor husband, Nikolaus Sprink. They are instrumental for bringing more joy to the men by joining their wonderful voices to sing traditional songs and carols.
Among the cast, Diane Kruger, Bruno Furmann, Guillaume Canet, Daniel Bruhl, Bernard LeCoq, Ian Richardson, Alex Ferns, and other actors from many countries come together to celebrate and forget the insanity and death that surrounds them.
Christian Carion is to be congratulated for bringing this story to the screen as it shows human nature at its best.
We are taken to the trenches, where German, French, and Scottish troops are seen fighting a fierce battle in which the Germans are showing a superior advantage from their side. During the exchange many soldiers die and are left in the snow covered field as the troops regroup to consider what kind of action to take.
In the spirit of the Christmas holidays the men from each faction are given extra rations, ornaments, and even trees and liquor from each of their countries to celebrate the occasion. It's a wonder to see the German side awash with small trees that are lit and raised over the edge of their trenches. Suddenly, there is the sound of music everywhere and the commanders of each faction come together to declare a cease fire so the men can celebrate Christmas Eve.
It's at this point that the main point of the film is made, as the terrible war seems to recede and all the men come together to rejoice, more like friends, than enemies. It's a lovely moment in which peace on earth seems to be achievable.
As all this is happening, Anna Sorenson, a talented singer, comes to the German side to be reunited with her tenor husband, Nikolaus Sprink. They are instrumental for bringing more joy to the men by joining their wonderful voices to sing traditional songs and carols.
Among the cast, Diane Kruger, Bruno Furmann, Guillaume Canet, Daniel Bruhl, Bernard LeCoq, Ian Richardson, Alex Ferns, and other actors from many countries come together to celebrate and forget the insanity and death that surrounds them.
Christian Carion is to be congratulated for bringing this story to the screen as it shows human nature at its best.
Silent Night
writers_reign16 December 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Any film based on this subject matter is, by definition, destined to wind up as something of a Curate's egg. The Christmas 'truce' of 1914 has been well documented and even mentioned in passing in several films set in the same period but until now it has never been the centrepiece of a complete film. Given that almost everyone knows ABOUT the truce, albeit vaguely but very few are in possession of any concrete facts the writer-director probably felt it safe to graft his own fictions onto a factual situation probably figuring that 91 years after the event any actual survivors would be well over one hundred years old and hardly in a position to let out a squawk at the odd anomaly. With so many targets - the church, the generals, the propagandists etc - to aim at the scattergun approach is not a bad option on the grounds that SOMETHING is bound to be hit or, to put it another way, some 'ideas' are bound to find favor with SOME viewers. When shooting a film in which three languages figure prominently it's a good idea if the director is reasonably fluent in all three lest any 'message' gets lost in the shuffle. Alas, THIS director is fluent in only one of the three which is all too apparent. The only reason I can think of for top-billing the non-actress Diane Kruger and allowing her to demonstrate that she's also a non-singer and even, ludicrously, a non-MIMER, was to secure finance; to the best of my knowledge feminine lieder singers were conspicuous by their absence at the truce as were, if it comes to that, celebrity Male lieder singers although, in the interests of fairness, SINGING on both sides did feature strongly. For an 'anti-war' tract the horrors of trench warfare are strangely absent and what we get is an almost anti-septic environment which is probably no worse than a camping expedition when the weather turned nasty. On the other hand it is a genuine pleasure to see Suzanne Flon in what may have been her last film sharing the screen with Michel Serrault. One is left with the awkward question What Was It All For; okay the rank-and-file demonstrated that common humanity has it over political machinations every time but lessons WEREN'T learned and within 24 hours half the participants had either killed each other, been killed by their own Generals or shipped out in disgrace. Those who wish to see a message here will do so others will just wonder what it hopes to achieve.
Moving
TBJCSKCNRRQTreviews25 May 2008
I was looking forward to finding out how this historical yet forgotten event would be put to film, and how accurately it would be depicted. I am not disappointed. This evokes emotion without ever slipping into sentimentality or sap. It personalizes without robbing the true occurrence of attention. There is focus put on certain characters(all of which are quite well-written), but never to the point of such being lost on what really happened. The plot is great, and develops well. Some liberties are taken with the story, and they are not all justified, but the core is kept intact, and this manages to both tell what happened and make us feel and care about it. The overdubbed singing could have been subjected to better synchronization, but there is little to any criticisms directed at the acting itself. The same goes for the production value. The technical aspects of this are excellent, as well. The cinematography and editing are just about flawless. Pacing is rather good. Writing and directing are commendable. All three sides each speak the actual languages, adding to the already well-established sense of realism. I recommend this to anyone interested in the period, and the specific situation in particular. 8/10
Watered Down attempt that rambles on a bit
tpace26 December 2006
Warning: Spoilers
It seems I had waited 44 years for a movie about this fascinating historic event. I love modern history and movies. I purchased this DVD and kept it for Xmas day. This was a tad disappointing. A weak sub plot attempted to pad out the movie involving two singers and at one point I thought it was turning into a musical.The movie was not gritty enough and missed a golden opportunity to show the true horror of the trenches and the incredible beauty of this amazing event. Don't get me wrong its not bad I just expected more. I somehow think this attempt will be bettered when a true filmmaker gets a shot at it. Until then it's a passable attempt and well worth seeing.There is a sermon at the end of the movie that I find questionable. Good subject matter does not guarantee a great movie, however its the rare magic that happens when you mix the two I crave for. Schindler's list and All quiet on the Western front are fine examples. The cinematography was good the DVD has a good quality soundtrack and I found the white balance in a predominately white environment well done. A lack of special features and an historical documentary was also a missed chance.
Wow!!!!
mixedbeanz12 December 2005
Last night I went to special screening of Joyeux Noël ahead of it's release on 22nd of December.
Wow, what an amazing movie. As a rule I generally tend to blacklist war movies but this so different.
This is in no way about the glorification of war but instead tells a tale of a group of human beings that see past their differences for one night.
Apparently all based on true events known as the The Christmas Truce of 1914.
I highly recommend this movie to any and all.
Wow, what an amazing movie. As a rule I generally tend to blacklist war movies but this so different.
This is in no way about the glorification of war but instead tells a tale of a group of human beings that see past their differences for one night.
Apparently all based on true events known as the The Christmas Truce of 1914.
I highly recommend this movie to any and all.
sincere anti-war movie
SnoopyStyle7 January 2016
It's Christmas 1914 with the horrors of trench warfare on the Western Front. Three nationalities have an unauthorized truce. Palmer (Gary Lewis) is the priest from a small Scottish parish. Nikolaus Sprink (Benno Fürmann) is a German opera singer and Anna Sörensen (Diane Kruger) is his singing partner. French lieutenant Audebert (Guillaume Canet) is being reassigned further back in artillery. He's worried about his pregnant wife caught behind German lines.
There is a little bit of action but mostly it's sentimental anti-war feelings. It over-does it a little when everybody moves from one side to the other to avoid the artillery barrage from both sides. They could easily just communicate and hide in their bunkers. The horrors of trench warfare isn't as visceral as the best war movies. It's very sincere but maybe a little too sentimental.
There is a little bit of action but mostly it's sentimental anti-war feelings. It over-does it a little when everybody moves from one side to the other to avoid the artillery barrage from both sides. They could easily just communicate and hide in their bunkers. The horrors of trench warfare isn't as visceral as the best war movies. It's very sincere but maybe a little too sentimental.
Joyeux Noel
CButler113 July 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Joyeux Noel was a very moving movie that depicted violence and peace very well. What I got out of this movie is that there is always a potential for peace. Even in the most violent situations. The fact that this movie is based on a true story makes it even more powerful. In history two sworn enemies actually put aside their differences to celebrate Christmas. If they could do it in one of the bloodiest times in history, we can certainly do it today. This movie shows us that peace is very attainable and we simply have to bridge that gap to reach it. Joyeux Noel was a very good movie that did justice to the issue of violence and the potential for peace.
There were many powerful scenes in the movie. The most powerful scene of the entire movie was during Christmas Eve. A German began to sing in the trenches and a Scottish soldier began to play to bagpipes to the rhythm of the song. It was very powerful when the German walked right out of his trench where he could have been killed holding a Christmas tree above his head. This man risked everything by leaving his trench and sparked a peace agreement between the armies. Shortly after, still on Christmas Eve, another powerful scene took place. While celebrating mass that night the original singers wife began to sing to the congregation. During her song, soldiers began to cry like it was sung by an angel. The soldiers were so relived to finally have a rest from the warfare and the singing only made the experience more powerful. Christmas Eve came and went and was followed by a period of more peace between the forces. One day, the German commander came to the French trench and warned the French of an artillery bombardment. The French took refuge in the German trenches along with the German soldiers. They huddled together in the dead of winter white bombs tore the French trenches apart. This scene was exceedingly powerful as well. Another powerful scene came after the high ranking French had found out about the peace agreement. The replacement army was at church and the priest was talking about how God wants every German to die. This was powerful because it showed how inhumane people are during times of war. These scenes demonstrated how bad violence is and how good peace is.
There was one scene that stood out in particular regarding the issue of violence and the potential for peace. This was the scene where the German began to sing. When he and the Scottish began to sing together he took a Christmas tree from his trench. At first, all you could see was a light coming from the trench across a war torn battlefield. The man was not shot and he created peace between enemies. This is a true story. It shows how one man can truly make a difference regarding violence. If one man can do this, millions can change the world. We could create peace if we really tried to. It does not matter how much nations hate each other; for Germany and France had a history of hatred. All that matters is that we are willing to work towards a peaceful world. This movie was a good example of how a violent world can become a peaceful one.
There were many powerful scenes in the movie. The most powerful scene of the entire movie was during Christmas Eve. A German began to sing in the trenches and a Scottish soldier began to play to bagpipes to the rhythm of the song. It was very powerful when the German walked right out of his trench where he could have been killed holding a Christmas tree above his head. This man risked everything by leaving his trench and sparked a peace agreement between the armies. Shortly after, still on Christmas Eve, another powerful scene took place. While celebrating mass that night the original singers wife began to sing to the congregation. During her song, soldiers began to cry like it was sung by an angel. The soldiers were so relived to finally have a rest from the warfare and the singing only made the experience more powerful. Christmas Eve came and went and was followed by a period of more peace between the forces. One day, the German commander came to the French trench and warned the French of an artillery bombardment. The French took refuge in the German trenches along with the German soldiers. They huddled together in the dead of winter white bombs tore the French trenches apart. This scene was exceedingly powerful as well. Another powerful scene came after the high ranking French had found out about the peace agreement. The replacement army was at church and the priest was talking about how God wants every German to die. This was powerful because it showed how inhumane people are during times of war. These scenes demonstrated how bad violence is and how good peace is.
There was one scene that stood out in particular regarding the issue of violence and the potential for peace. This was the scene where the German began to sing. When he and the Scottish began to sing together he took a Christmas tree from his trench. At first, all you could see was a light coming from the trench across a war torn battlefield. The man was not shot and he created peace between enemies. This is a true story. It shows how one man can truly make a difference regarding violence. If one man can do this, millions can change the world. We could create peace if we really tried to. It does not matter how much nations hate each other; for Germany and France had a history of hatred. All that matters is that we are willing to work towards a peaceful world. This movie was a good example of how a violent world can become a peaceful one.
Disappointing
b-verity29 March 2006
Son of a WWI vet, I found this very disappointing. Firstly, it gave a sanitised depiction of trench warfare, further weakened by a schmaltzy and improbable romantic sub-plot and, despite decent performances in the lead roles, a set of caricatured minor characters from central casting(noble priest, slimy bishop,comic-relief Ponchel)and plodding direction - not to mention poor lip-synching of the singers and, as so often, overlit night scenes and unrealistic snow! The essential point - the futility of war - was made in a didactic rather than dramatic way, so that some of the schoolkids in the audience when I saw it were visibly bored. For a multinational production with a worthy aim, this was an opportunity missed.
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