Merry Christmas

Name: Merry Christmas
Genre: Drama, Romance, War, Music
Released: March 3, 2006
Duration: 116 min
Rating: 70
Cast: Benno Fürmann, Diane Kruger, Guillaume Canet

2006

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 26 Critics

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 37 Ratings

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8.1	User Score Universal acclaim based on 37 Ratings

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JOYEUX NOEL (MERRY CHRISTMAS)

Movie Details & Credits

Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: March 3, 2006

Starring: Benno Fürmann, Diane Kruger, Guillaume Canet

Summary: This movie is inspired by a true story, which occurred in the trenches of the World War I battlefield on Christmas Eve in 1914. When war breaks out in the lull of summer 1914, it surprises and pulls millions of men in its wake. Christmas arrives, with its snow and multitude of family and army presents. But the surprise won't come fromThis movie is inspired by a true story, which occurred in the trenches of the World War I battlefield on Christmas Eve in 1914. When war breaks out in the lull of summer 1914, it surprises and pulls millions of men in its wake. Christmas arrives, with its snow and multitude of family and army presents. But the surprise won't come from inside the generous parcels which lie in the French, Scottish, and German trenches. That night, a momentous event will turn the destinies of four characters: an Anglican priest, a French lieutenant, an exceptional German tenor and the one he loves, a soprano and singing partner. During this Christmas Eve, the unthinkable happens: soldiers come out of their trenches, leaving their rifles behind to shake hands with the enemy. (Sony Pictures Classics)… Expand

Director: Christian Carion

Genre(s): Drama, Romance, War, Music

Rating: R

Runtime: 116 min

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Critic Reviews

The Hollywood Reporter - Ray Bennett

With a cast of Scottish, German and French actors all speaking their own language, writer-director Christian Carion has fashioned a deeply moving and uplifting piece. Read full review

Chicago Tribune - Michael Wilmington

Though it's not the great film "Grand Illusion" is, and though it may strike some as a little schmaltzy, it still has some of that earlier film's deep feeling and empathy for soldiers trapped in the jaws of war and for the joys of Christmas--for believers and non-believers alike. Read full review

Austin Chronicle - Marrit Ingman

The movie isn't perfect – Spielberg-slick, its power is sometimes dampened by melodrama that overstates its message – but it is compelling and thought-provoking and topical as hell. Read full review

Seattle Post-Intelligencer - William Arnold

The overall saga is moving, the performances are first-rate, the production values (which do not rely on the usual cartoonish CGI effects) are strong, and Carion captures the special insanity of stalemated trench warfare with an unusual horrific flair. Read full review

L.A. Weekly - Ella Taylor

Joyeux Noël finishes up as no more than a garden-variety tearjerker, neatly packaged for Oscar candidacy. It's not hard to see why the French chose this inoffensive weepie as their nominee for best foreign-language film, when they might have had Jacques Audiard's far superior, if more difficult, "The Beat That My Heart Skipped" or Arnaud Desplechin's "Kings & Queen." Read full review

The A.V. Club - Nathan Rabin

Though a painless time-passer, Joyeux Noël ultimately contributes little to the venerable anti-war genre beyond its curious message that to some degree, war is hell because it prevents soldiers from making really neat friends and pen-pals from different counties. Read full review

Boston Globe - Wesley Morris

It's a heart-warmer, a well-meaning movie that sets out to wring a modern message (and preferably some tears) from a famous but largely forgotten moment in history. Read full review

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User Reviews

Roeyl

May 1, 2011

A very beautiful movie, very sentimental. It represents perfectly a human aspect in war like no other movie did. This isn't your classic war movie: it has nothing to do with action or mass death.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

vahn

Feb 15, 2014

This is...the "best" movie I've ever seen in my entire life: I almost cried at the end of it, and I tend to watch movies mostly as a way to communication more than a total. But this movie gives such a strong and powerful message that i was simply amazed and overjoyed.

The story is basedThis is...the "best" movie I've ever seen in my entire life: I almost cried at the end of it, and I tend to watch movies mostly as a way to communication more than a total. But this movie gives such a strong and powerful message that i was simply amazed and overjoyed.

The story is based on a real fact on the WWI, specifically around Christmas, where basically the 3 opposing factions (Scotland, France and Germany) decided to stop the war for celebrating Christmas...and it all develops from there what is basically a strong message of peace.

Infact, this movie shows how a simple festivity, how just the mere act of celebrating a holiday, it's able to change EVERYONE in the span of few instants. It's not even about Christianity sake, it's a global message of how just simple beliefs can bring out the good in people.
It has some flaws now and then (I hardly remember the characters themselves) but I just loved the message and basically how we should religions not just a simple way to live, but a way to bring out the best of ourselves and to do the right thing.

Like I said at the start, in my opinion, this is the best movie "ever".

Of course, to each his/her own.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Fill

Feb 25, 2007

Those who don't like the film because it's too "contrived and cloying" should go back to commenting on National Lampoon and American Pie fims and let the grown ups talk aboutreal films. Joyeux Noel is fantastic. Christian Carion did his research. He was able to accurately portray Those who don't like the film because it's too "contrived and cloying" should go back to commenting on National Lampoon and American Pie fims and let the grown ups talk aboutreal films. Joyeux Noel is fantastic. Christian Carion did his research. He was able to accurately portray a time and place that is difficult for us to understand. He is able to bring out the humanity that exists during a time of war. This is effectively evidenced by the compelling characters that he places before us. Through them we are able to see that the men on both sides were fighting for one thing; the right to go home. A wonderful film. A must see!… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful

JohnP.

May 31, 2006

An excellent film. Very well done. And for those who believe it's too "over the top" and schmaltzy, read the actual acounts of this extraordinary event. In many instances, the screenwriter dulled the actual history, lest audiences not believe what they're seeing. The story of the An excellent film. Very well done. And for those who believe it's too "over the top" and schmaltzy, read the actual acounts of this extraordinary event. In many instances, the screenwriter dulled the actual history, lest audiences not believe what they're seeing. The story of the Scottish priest, chastised for not using his religion to support war, was for me the backbone of the film. And a frightening reminder of how zealots of all religions can twist scriptures for their own rotten purposes. A film worth seeing.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

PetitBikini

Oct 29, 2016

"Merry Christmas" or "Joyeux Noel" is a fantastic anti-war movie. The film's concept that combines singing Christmas carols with world war 1 is a strange one, but it is handled masterfully. This film needs to get more attention.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MrMovieBuff

Feb 13, 2017

Writer and director Christian Carion decides to tell us a very important story about the one time during "The Great War" when soldiers fighting for other countries came together that one Christmas time to celebrate life. The time of year that is so precious, many settled their differences toWriter and director Christian Carion decides to tell us a very important story about the one time during "The Great War" when soldiers fighting for other countries came together that one Christmas time to celebrate life. The time of year that is so precious, many settled their differences to actually get to know each other. 'Joyeux Noel', or "Merry Christmas" is a poignant, emotionally stirring, sometimes too sentimental movie that is perfect for the holiday season. The movie stars Benno Furmann as Private Nikolaus Sprink, a German tenor who also sings opera with his beloved wife, Anna Sorenson (Diane Kruger) who becomes concerned when he goes off to war. She gets permission to perform for the soldiers there, as long as Sprink accompanies her. When we see the soldiers getting together and actually swapping stories, the movie becomes interesting as we see their differences are only so small. The focus is very strong on bringing these characters and making them human and easily sympathetic. Again, what does hold the movie back is the overuse of its sentimentality, there is some bitterness from a couple of characters such as Lieutenant Hostmayer (Daniel Bruhl), but even then, it is limited to try and make this movie as likeable as some of the soldiers we see on screen. All in all, this is a very solid movie, telling us a story that we should all know, in that War is something that people are only forced to fight in. Nobody here is a blood hungry murderer, they're just taking orders. At the end of the day, they're good people.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

RobC.

Mar 5, 2006

Extraordinarily contrived and cloying, kind of like a Hallmark movie done in a different language. No way should this be a Best Foreign Film nominee.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

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