Joyeux Noel (Widescreen)
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Movie Reviews of Joyeux Noel (Widescreen)
Movie Review: A Wonderful Look Back
Summary: 5 Stars
This film is a moving dramatization of the spontaneous Christmas truce of 1914, during which soldiers on both sides met in no-man's land, sang hymns, played sports, and exchanged gifts. Needless to say, the generals, warm and well-fed in their far-from-the-front chateaux, were not happy about that and did their best to see it didn't repeat the following three Christmases of the war.
The film is well-done and almost even-handed in its presentation of soldiers from France, Germany and Scotland, except that the French soldiers, for some reason, seem less interesting than the Scottish and German. That's odd, since this 2005 film was apparently a French or Belgian production.
The film's other oddity is that the Scottish officer who participates in and is punished for his role the unofficial cease fire is apparently a Catholic priest (note his use of Latin), as it appears were most of his men. The Scots of that day were mostly Scotch Presbyterian, so I can''t explain that little anomaly. Maybe the French/Belgian producers didn''t know that. The European intelligentsia of today know very little about religion, hence their instinctive pandering to militant Islam. Religion scares them, so a scary religion seems normal.
Sadly, the Great War in which these men fought has become the Forgotten War. That's unfortunately, because all too many of our modern ills are rooted in that long-ago struggle over mere yards of blasted landscape. The years before the Great War represented the high-water mark in European influence on the world. Europe has never fully recovered from its enormous loses.
-Michael W. Perry, Chesterton on War and Peace: Battling the Ideas and Movements That Led to Nazism and World War II
Movie Review: We Need More Movies Like This
Summary: 5 Stars
The theme of this movie is the Fraternization between enemy soldiers documented during WWI. It is a rich and powerful subject as are the pitiful efforts on the part of the military, governments, and some of the religious leaders...to terminate the Fraternization. It started with music (the Fraternizations). A simple song was more powerful than war. That alone is a very powerful truth.
Be sure to listen to the Interview with Christian Carion, (make sure you set it to English subtitles! if you do not speak French). He explains how most of the main facts of the movie are based on true events. His position is a powerful one, especially regarding the horrifying Bishop's speech, how children were being militarized by Germany, France, and England, and what these countries did in an effort to stop or suppress the Fraternization.
I found this movie quite moving. It managed to cross boundaries on every level and, I believe, showed a simple and profound truth. Given a chance, most people just want to live their lives and are fundamentally good. It would be a fabulous movie to share with young people as it dares to show something positive, warm, loving, and the best of human nature.
To let this simple but powerful evidence of human decency be remembered is food for our soul and gives wing to my heart! Organized religion of any sort, and of course different governments, do not have the best track record when it comes to tolerance. If you know history, this should not be a surprise.
My advice...watch with an open heart, and finish the experience with the Director's Interview. The music at the end is absolutely gorgeous.
Movie Review: The power of Christmas - "Peace on Earth"
Summary: 5 Stars
This is an excellent movie about a real historical event. During autumn of 1914 Europe was enmeshed in a war (at the time called "the Great War") which proved to be the first global war - World War I. Everyone involved thought this was going to be a walk-in-the park and by Christmastime the troops would be home. Instead, Christmas 1914 found the soldiers on the western front on French territory not far from Paris (Germans, French, Scots, and English) locked in trench warfare tactics. (American troops joined the allies only later in 1917).
"Joyeux Noel" (French for Merry Christmas) tells the story of the Scottish, French, and German troops who for one day and one night put down their weapons and joined each other's Christmas celebration and jubilation. Such an importance Christmas played in the lives of these ordinary soldiers, that their common bond and their songs of "peace on earth" have actually broken the bonds of conforming hate and military uniformity.
The cinematography of "Joyeux Noel" is great and there are also two love stories included (and make it more Hollywood-like). The production of this movie was made by a mutual effort of French, German, British, Belgian, and Roumanian crews. Noel in French means Christmas, in English is a Christmas Carol ("Noel, Noel") and it originates from Latin 'natalis' which means birthday. While this movie is not as informative as the History Channel's documentary on this unique event in military history (released in 2001), the movie's lesson for me is that Christmas has a powerful message - it's the celebration of the One called "Prince of Peace."
Movie Review: Let There Be peace On Earth
Summary: 5 Stars
This powerful and thought evoking film depicts an actual incident which took place on Christmas Eve, 1914. The film juxtaposes the great beauty of Christ's birth with the unspeakable human tragedy of war.
The events chronicled in this film took place on the killing fields of France where The French and Scottish armies were entrenched across from the German army. Here these powerful armies slaughtered each other for four years never giving up more than 25 miles of teritory either way. On this special Christmas eve, the first of the Great War, these armies saw a chance to stop the killing to celebrate the birth of the prince of peace. As the soldiers emerged from their trenches, littered with human filth and rotting corpses, one can not help but sense an immediate rebirth. In doing so, they recognized their common humanity and fulfilled the promise of Christ's birth which is "Let There Be Peace on Earth".
The film is wonderfully acted and the attention to detail is spectacular. The most moving scene of this film is when the Scottish priest celebrates mass in latin (as was done back then) to the Sottish, French and German soldiers. While all speak their own language they were able to experience a spritual moment in the common language of the Catholic mass. This simple act of mass reminds the viewer of the good that comes when human beings focus on the commonalities that bind us and not the differences that tend to destroy us.
I highly remommend this wonderful film to anyone who believes in the inherent promise of humanity and the power of good versus evil.
Movie Review: The true meaning of Christmas
Summary: 5 Stars
Joyeux Noel is outstanding. It's a Christmas movie that gets to the true meaning of the holiday while avoiding all the annoying, hollow cliches about the "Christmas spirit" that flood the market every holiday season (in corny TV shows and movies like The Santa Clause.)
It is also a war movie that asks the right questions about war without demonizing or blaming any particular worldview. Some of the best war films challenge the viewer - Platoon comes to mind - but, unfortunately, leave their audience depressed and in despair. As hellish as war is, as much evil as men commit against each other, sometimes mankind's best characteristics are revealed in battle. Joyeux Noel celebrates what's best in mankind without being trite, sappy or silly.
The religious messages are impossible to avoid. The director, Christian Carion, superbly demonstrated, through the characters, Father Palmer and the Bishop, the contrast between the loving, caring, humble service Christ demonstrated and the rigid, dogmatic, political and sometimes hateful lives of the members of the religious establishment. (Sadly, the Bishop's words were taken from an actual sermon given at Westminster Abbey during World War I.)
As a work of art, Joyeux Noel is top-notch. The acting is superb, the sets and costumes are well-done and the soundtrack is beautiful. It is moving and funny, happy and sad, captivating but moderately paced, all at the appropriate spots. As we enter the holiday season, I can't think of a movie I would more highly recommend to watch in the coming weeks (or anytime, really.)