Joyeux Noël (Merry Christmas) (2005)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Sarah G

  
  An incredibly thought provoking depiction of the WW1 Christmas ceasefire between the Germans, French and the Scottish. The uniting of each of the countries is especially moving and we get to see each solider as an ordinary human being, without the trails and tribulations of war on… More
  An incredibly thought provoking depiction of the WW1 Christmas ceasefire between the Germans, French and the Scottish. The uniting of each of the countries is especially moving and we get to see each solider as an ordinary human being, without the trails and tribulations of war on their mind. Interestingly, the meeting of German and French soldiers on some occasions is at times funny to watch, as both try to understand one another. One of the highlights of the film is the brilliant soundtrack. We see Opera singer Sprink sing to all soldiers in quite a poignant moment, which leaves all 3 sets of soldiers incredibly touched. What is so great about that, is that this relates to all occasions of war and that's why it feels more real that we are witnessing.The film has all the best European actors from; Daniel Bruhl, Diane Kruger, to Guillaume Canet to Gary Lewis. This just goes to show just how brilliant European filming really can be. This may very well be one of my top 5 favourite war films. Highly recommended.

• Cynthia S

  
  Inspired by true events during WWI. ......Touching and poignant, this is a powerfully good Christmas movie. Well acted, well directed, well filmed. You see and feel the difficulty of war, the suffering of the men, the bitter cold of a Belgian winter, and the redemptive power of… More
  Inspired by true events during WWI. ......Touching and poignant, this is a powerfully good Christmas movie. Well acted, well directed, well filmed. You see and feel the difficulty of war, the suffering of the men, the bitter cold of a Belgian winter, and the redemptive power of Christmas even through the darkest of times and events. We also get a good sense of the hypocrisy of the various leaders as they frantically thrash about trying to contain the news of a small outbreak of peace on the Belgian front. Highly recommended.

• Daniel P

  
  Saw about half of this a year or two ago, and while very good it was very late at night... I fell asleep. [Real rating pending.]

• Jens S

  
  This is the true, although probably adjusted, story of a ceasefire near the French-German border in 1914, where soldiers of three nations stopped shooting to celebrate Christmas together. Being entirely neutral, the movie equally shares the three point of views from German, French and… More
  This is the true, although probably adjusted, story of a ceasefire near the French-German border in 1914, where soldiers of three nations stopped shooting to celebrate Christmas together. Being entirely neutral, the movie equally shares the three point of views from German, French and Scottish characters, giving short glimpses at the terror of war in the beginning, but then concentrating on this incredible story of fragile friendship and peace amidst the chaos. The first steps of trust and agreement not to attack each other are very exciting and touching to witness. Thankfully the movie spares us most of the surely ugly aftermaths or an unnecessarily violent ending, which probably would have ruined the message of people searching for a way to get along even in the most unlikely situations. The fact that the commands of all three nations kept these happenings a secret for many years says enough, though. Good cinematography, great acting and a nice soundtrack together with a message of humanity make this one of the better Christmas movies, though.

• Jani H

  
  "Joyeux Noel" is truly an inspirational movie about war. Three different camps, two sides fighting against each other lay down their weapons during Christmas to celebrate the holiday. The men are trying to forget the war but unfortunately the war will not forget them. The… More
  "Joyeux Noel" is truly an inspirational movie about war. Three different camps, two sides fighting against each other lay down their weapons during Christmas to celebrate the holiday. The men are trying to forget the war but unfortunately the war will not forget them. The way the nations "friendship" is set is heartwarming but in the end it feels kinda unrealistic. "Joyeux Noel" is almost a perfect Christmas movie. Don't expect any mind blowing war scenes ala "Saving Private Ryan".

• Ross C

  
  A Christmas like any other but this is 1914, and it's the first of the Great War for the soldiers serving in the trenches of the Western front. This an amusing, touching, true story of the spontaneous cease-fire on Christmas Eve where the French, Scottish and German sides put the… More
  A Christmas like any other but this is 1914, and it's the first of the Great War for the soldiers serving in the trenches of the Western front. This an amusing, touching, true story of the spontaneous cease-fire on Christmas Eve where the French, Scottish and German sides put the war behind them to celebrate Christmas, even playing a game of football. A great cross-cultural tale that focuses on the characters setting aside their national differences rather than being a typical war movie.

• Bruce B

  
  The very best movie I have seen in a long time, I would Recommend this for any WWII Vetern. Also for those who still enjoy War Movies.

• Daniel H

  
  Well acted, brilliantly portrayed. It keeps its individuality despite what could have been an oppressive number of characters, as well as remarkable amounts of character depth and development despite everyone getting relatively little screen time. Subdued but precise cinematography… More
  Well acted, brilliantly portrayed. It keeps its individuality despite what could have been an oppressive number of characters, as well as remarkable amounts of character depth and development despite everyone getting relatively little screen time. Subdued but precise cinematography captures the characters moods and perspective, keeping us firmly "in the trenches." On top of the mere cinematic qualities, this movie lovingly and rigorously handles its plot, raising it to a level of storytelling as opposed to entertainment. All in all, it is difficult for a war film to break the boundaries of its genre, but Joyeux Noel manages to do just that, combining a touching and dramatic story with a well-crafted piece of cinema.

• Dann M

  
  It's one of the most amazing war stories ever told, and demonstrates the awe-inspiring power of Christmas. Joyeux Noel is an exceptional film that tells the true story of the spontaneous 1914 Christmas truce of World War I. The film does an exquisite job at bringing the… More
  It's one of the most amazing war stories ever told, and demonstrates the awe-inspiring power of Christmas. Joyeux Noel is an exceptional film that tells the true story of the spontaneous 1914 Christmas truce of World War I. The film does an exquisite job at bringing the characters to life and drawing the audience into story. Rarely has a film depicted the life of the World War I soldier and the complexity of war so well. Joyeux Noel is a loving tribute to the soldiers who found the Christmas spirit during the madness of war.

• Walter M

  
  [font=Century Gothic]Inspired by real events, "Joyeux Noel" is about the 1914 Christmas truce initiated by French, Scottish and German soldiers fighting in the trenches in World War I. The movie takes too long setting up the story and introducing the various characters.(Of… More
  [font=Century Gothic]Inspired by real events, "Joyeux Noel" is about the 1914 Christmas truce initiated by French, Scottish and German soldiers fighting in the trenches in World War I. The movie takes too long setting up the story and introducing the various characters.(Of all the storylines, the one involving the opera singers is by far the weakest.) So much so, that the conclusion feels abrupt by comparison. What does eventually emerge is a devastating indictment of the absurdity of war. Once the soldiers get to know each other, play soccer and cards, then the propaganda that has been drilled into their heads becomes useless. Religion unites the men in an impromptu Christmas Mass but remember that even the devil can quote scripture.[/font]

• Mike N

  
  Another newsletter submission. Yay! [font=Book Antiqua][b]The Proposition[/b][/font] [font=Book Antiqua]Did you ever watch any of those dusty old 1940’s westerns starring Roy Rogers or Gene Autry? Handsome heroes with perfect bone structure, cast against a backdrop of random… More
  Another newsletter submission. Yay! [font=Book Antiqua][b]The Proposition[/b][/font] [font=Book Antiqua]Did you ever watch any of those dusty old 1940’s westerns starring Roy Rogers or Gene Autry? Handsome heroes with perfect bone structure, cast against a backdrop of random beautiful rock formations and clouds pinking in the sunset….and somewhere somebody is playing a harmonica. They always had that far-away expression, like their heart beat to every movement of the west. They spoke kindly to ladies, cleaned their boots, and fed their shiny horses. They freely defended piles of dirt and wood they called a “town,” and never lost a fight. They were amazing creatures. (The cowboys, not the horses – those things were just shampooed well). You wondered if dastardly thoughts ever flickered in those hero brains of theirs. “I’m not only Sheriff, ma’am. I aim to be a peace officer.” Can’t you just picture these mythological beings, gazing upon invisible injustices a thousand miles away, gently being swayed into duty? (Harmonica Guy, that’s your cue.)[/font] [font=Book Antiqua]Now picture somebody shooting Roy off his perch, pistol-whipping him in the face, and stealing his shiny horse. And if I were to guess, he spat something gross on Roy, too. (Poor Roy.) Picture, then, this thief as a “good guy.” That’s more of what ‘The Proposition’ is like, a rugged Australian western set in the harsh Outback wasteland of the 1880’s (the “bushranger era”), and made of palpable desert grit, sun-dried blood stains, and a lot of Australians. “Honor” is as foreign a concept in this film as “Hygiene,” and routines itself with the odd case of raw, shocking violence. And yet, and yet, all of this plays out like a brooding song of unusual beauty. There’s this undercurrent of subtle lament and prevailing humanity that seems to crystallize ‘The Proposition’ into a diamond in the Outback.[/font] [font=Book Antiqua]The title proposition is a bit complicated. Captain Stanley, a cruel local lawman, apprehends outlaw brothers Charley & Mikey Burns. Instead of imprisoning both, Stanley (Ray Winstone) poses an ultimatum to the stronger brother, Charley (Guy Pearce): hunt down and kill the third brother, the madman cutthroat Arthur Burns (Danny Huston), or Mikey will be executed. Aside from the immediate tension this moral dilemma creates (despite being sluggish for a stretch), it also becomes the vehicle for a more wide-reaching exploration of loyalty, betrayal, and the family relation. The cultural and historical background is rife with interesting subtexts (ie.- Aboriginal racism), and pronounced by the characters and their relationships to this unforgiving landscape and to each other.[/font] [font=Book Antiqua]D[/font][font=Book Antiqua]irector John Hillcoate emphasizes this devouring desolation of the Australian Outback to the point of making it a character by itself, with numerous focused frames of its deadly beauty, giving the movie a scorched quality and enhancing the sense of isolation (a nice contrast to the futile elegance of the British transplants, like a rose garden in the sand). Also deserving of high billing in the cast list is “Swarm of Flies,” which appears in more scenes than Guy Pearce (and emotes pretty fiercely). But it’s in following Charley’s quiet torment or Captain Stanley’s slow unraveling, or even Arthur’s intense dichotomy, does the viewer gradually understand the wonderful struggle and hopeless passions on display. We get the sense all involved are caught in the terrible machinations of historical progress, the classic case of man attempting to conquer the land and instead the land overcomes them, yet us viewers know that human progress eventually wins out. But through it all there shines a glint of beauty that finds its way to all souls staggering through this hard-knock life, as we see with every brilliant sunrise or sunset that surveys the world.[/font] [font=Book Antiqua]Framed beautifully, scored hauntingly, and acted superbly (also want to mention Emily Watson & John Hurt – yay for them), ‘The Proposition’ is a compelling portrait of wayward virtues trying to escape from the sorrowful, barbaric side-effects of molding a civilization out of utter wildness. ‘The Proposition’ operates on a kind of blood poetry philosophy, one that’s slightly more evolved than Sergio Leone’s in-your-face grittiness and more on par with Eastwood’s ‘Unforgiven.’ A kind of verse that Gene or Roy have no clue how to speak. Which is okay, because they both work. Roy just doesn’t want to be involved on this side of things anymore.[/font] [font=Book Antiqua][b]8.5/10[/b].[/font] [font=Book Antiqua]QUICKIE:[/font] [font=Book Antiqua][b]The Da Vinci Code[/b][/font] [font=Book Antiqua]More like Da Vinci Blow’d. Does anybody even like this movie? Personally I found the book marginal at best, with its pacing being the primary redeeming quality. It’s amazing, then, how the movie is as exciting as rotting wood. In slow-motion. Was that [i]classical music[/i] playing during the car chase sequence? “How to prevent potentially entertaining sequences from occurring,” by Ron Howard. Each new uncovered secret provided the same sense of historical gravitas as discovering what’s inside a peanut shell. I’m not convinced this book was un-adaptable, either, so this movie’s failure in doing so renders it an exercise in 150-minute tedium, or a test in imagining dollar signs flit across the celluloid. If I gave the dollar signs fangs and a taste for flesh, and of course allowed them in the film, I think I could have made the movie a billion times more entertaining.[/font] [font=Book Antiqua][b]2/10[/b].[/font] [font=Book Antiqua][u]Others[/u]: [b]United 93[/b] – 10/10, [b]X-Men: The Last Stand[/b] – 7/10, [b]Over The Hedge[/b] – 5.5/10, [b]Mission: Impossible III[/b] – 6/10, [b]Poseidon[/b] – 4/10, [b]Akeelah & The Bee[/b] – 7/10, [b]A Prairie Home Companion [/b]– 7.5/10, [b]Cars[/b] – 7.5/10.[/font]

• Mark K

  
  There aren't very many films about the First World War, and the likelihood of any being made is low now, with no veterans left to tell a story. However, the incident of the unofficial cease fire during December 1914 along one small section of the Western Front is well documented.… More
  There aren't very many films about the First World War, and the likelihood of any being made is low now, with no veterans left to tell a story. However, the incident of the unofficial cease fire during December 1914 along one small section of the Western Front is well documented. French film director/writer Christian Carion put together a sentimental film that tells the simple story quite well. While not as good as classics like "All Quiet on the Western Front"; "Sergeant York"; or Stanley Kubrick's "Paths of Glory", Joyeux Noel still captures a brief footnote in history beautifully. The terrible conflict of World War One has left only a few blurred images behind in people's minds, except perhaps in France. This film, set at the beginning of the European conflict clearly shows the entr'acte of what was to become a bloody opera of death in the trenches in France. Carion casts his protagonists perfectly. They're human, not superheros. They are terrified, as the French lieutenant clearly shows in the very first scene. The story has a few surprises in it, and those not familiar with the history of the war will also find the attitudes of the soldiers to one another quite unusual. This conflict was started by treaties and egos amongst the ruling classes in Europe -- very different from the origins of the Second World War. The film shows the divide between the common soldier and their superiors, as the remnants of the old aristocracy drive them to war. It's also beautifully photographed, and also unusual because the narrative is in three languages. Despite their language difference, the three main characters all have very similar backgrounds. They were the first wave of men sent to the front: The idealistic and optimistic ones in the war to end all wars. That they managed to retain some semblance of brotherhood, even for a short time, is remarkable. The film is a little overly sweet, and perhaps it doesn't let the viewer understand that this situation is unusual: What came over the next four years of the war is pure horror. However, the movie is technically well done, and the dialogue is good, and seemed heartfelt. The acting by the multi-national cast is excellent. The characters are all sympathetic and interesting, and although the sub-stories about propaganda might seem heavy-handed, it's not much different from today. It gives you some understanding of the period, and how the young people are manipulated into believing in the righteousness of their cause, or the evil of their enemies. This kind of manipulation Hitler must have understood,(he served in World War I) and used to horrific effect a generation later. It's not a cheerful film, or a big, sweeping one, but it shows the true meaning of brotherhood and goodwill in a way that many foolish Christmas romantic comedies cannot.

• Dannielle A

  
  WOW. So moving.

• Erin C

  
  Very good. Completely different than most Christmas and war films.

• Kyle S

  
  I very strong film, and a great directorial debut for Christian Carion.

• Sarah P

  
  I enjoyed the idea and story behind this more than the actual movie itself. It was okay, but probably not something I will want to watch every Christmas. I also thought it was an interesting side note that the German commander was Jewish. I wonder what happened to him during WWII?

• Janice :

  
  Want to see this again though

• Quinto W

  
  With Christmas fast approaching, I think this is definitely the best picture to get you in the spirit of whatever Christmas stands for besides presents and getting fat.

• Tom S

  
  Beautiful. A testament to the power of art in transforming our experience. Might be my new favorite "Christmas movie."

• Wu C

  
  Runs a little slow, but a nice tale.

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