joyeux noel
[merry Christmas]
This is a war movie, sort of. It has action and violence and battle. But it’s more than that. It’s the true—though probably slightly exaggerated—story of the human spirit. I was impressed. It was mentioned in passing by a friend of mine on our way out of another movie (Valley of elah). I wanted to take a look, because it’s a compulsion. The summary she gave me was exactly how the film played out, but there were subtle undertones, derived from the timing of its release, that make it fantastic.
In World War I, soldiers from Scotland, France, and Germany made a temporary truce in order to celebrate the holidays. Their commanding officers were in the dark on this ceasefire. The men traded drink, stories, and celebration. They came to know one another and then, as the holidays ended, were enemies again. It’s a story about a different side of warfare. The human element that is almost always lost in history and cinematic depiction.
The acting is great. The stories they act out are strong and layered. There’s a sense that the men know they are doing something against conventional wisdom, but genuinely good. The interplay of commanding officers, between the men, and, at the core, between enemies, drives the film. A commentary on war runs at a different, more subtle, level than the action. It’s a commentary on war, how it was and how it is now.
War has not changed. It is still a battle between people for the same reasons. Territory, defense, or freedom are still the root causes of a war. The soldiers are still pawns in the vicious chess game being played by their superiors. But a movie like this will never be made and the actions shown therein will never happen again. War is now a battle between cultures. The common ground of soldiers has been erased by propaganda and perceptions. We will never again have an impromptu truce on the grounds of common holidays.
That’s what makes this film so powerful. It’s more than a film of war, a film about soldiers relating across the lines of culture, and a film showing the humanity during violence. It’s a snapshot in time. I don’t know how the events really happened for those few days in France in 1914, but the story behind it is incredible. The film shows a reality of war that is rarely touched on. To say both sides are justified in any conflict now is to say the sky is down, be anti-american, or Iranian.
It’s a good film based solely on the story. The setting is good, the action is realistic, and the characters are solid. It’s not necessarily a Christmas movie, but it seems to fit the winter season very well. I’m throwing out a recommendation that you throw this in when you’re forced into a night in due to blizzard or excessive chill. It’s a fun show.
****