Joyeaux Noel

This is the fourth 2006 Oscar nominated foreign film that I have seen (it looks like I will see the fifth one, Don't Tell, on DVD as it played for a week and it is already gone) and I think it is one of the best.

Christian Carrion has created a beautifully crafted anti-war film. On Christmas eve in 1914 British, French and German troops called a cease fire and celebrated Christmas together. But, there are events that led up to this and the film goes into some of them.

At the beginning of the film there is a scene which takes place in Scotland where a young man is working with a priest. His brother excitedly comes in and tells him that they are going to war and exclaims that now life has meaning. There were some candles that were burning but after the brothers leave the church they go out. I took that as a premonition of what was to come and from the expression on the priest's face so did he.

On the German side there is a well known opera singer in the ranks. He gets special permission to see his lover, who is also an opera singer, on Christmas eve. They both decide to go to the trenches and celebrate the holiday with the soldiers.

Things start to mellow out when the Scottish part of Britain's contingent play traditional holiday music on the bagpipes. The German soldier/singer starts to sing along. Before you know it the commanders from each group decide that there will be a cease fire for the holiday. The German commander gives back the French commander's wallet (he lost it during a battle). Everyone is eating and drinking together and having a great time. The commanders even decide to help each other bury their dead. The Scottish priest (yes, he is in the trenches) gives a very moving service which is followed by beautiful operatic singing. The German commander says that he has never been so moved in his life and this is not because it is Christmas. He is a Jew and he is moved because he sees what can happen when humankind puts down their weapons of war.

Unfortunately, the cease fire has to come to an end. But, because these men have come to know each other they have feelings of respect for those outside their squad. They even help each other keep out of harm's way when they know that an attack is coming. After all of this, you may ask, how can they kill each other? Well, they can't.

However, what they have done is not looked upon favorably by the higher ups. Each group of men is punished. Particularly chilling is when the Bishop from Britain relieves the priest of his duties and questions if the priest is even fit to be a man of God. The Bishop gives his sermon to a new group of soldiers and his is filled with fire and brimstone. He quotes a Bible that says that war is good. But, by that time in the film, we know just how wrong he is.

I don't know much about Carrion's previous work but after seeing this film I want to see what he has done in the past and what he will do in the future. The film is beautifully shot and gives one the feeling of being right there on the battlefield. This is a true ensemble piece and all of the acting is outstanding. Some of the actors are Gary Lewis as the Scottish priest, Daniel Bruhl as the German commander, Diane Kruger and Benno Furmann as the opera singers, Guillarme Canet as the French commander and Ian Richardson as the Bishop. There are many others and they all deserve credit for being part of this remarkable film.

I was so moved by this film and it will stand out in my heart and soul for some time to come. This is a film that I will want to see again because the message is pure and beautiful. The governments make wars but the heads of governments never go and fight them. When soldiers put down their arms and talk to their "enemies" they will find out that they have more in common with them than they think. This film is based on true events. At this time in history I wish that people would call for cease fires around the world. Then maybe we would have a chance to save humanity.