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 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 43 Ratings

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8.1	User Score Universal acclaim based on 43 Ratings

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Joyeux Noel (Merry Christmas)

Now Playing: Joyeux Noel (Merry Christmas)

Movie Details & Credits

Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: March 3, 2006 | R

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FilipeNeto

Aug 1, 2020

Before talking about the film, I will leave a brief historical commentary on the real incidents that supported it. The so-called "Christmas Truces" were informal breaks that took place around Christmas 1914 along the western front of the First World War. They consisted of unofficialBefore talking about the film, I will leave a brief historical commentary on the real incidents that supported it. The so-called "Christmas Truces" were informal breaks that took place around Christmas 1914 along the western front of the First World War. They consisted of unofficial ceasefire agreements between the belligerents, sometimes followed by moments of fraternization. Although this now seems surprising, and it was done outside the orders and will of the military high commanders on both sides, this incident is not unique and has its origins in Christian beliefs, then still marked in the minds and behaviour of the European peoples, regardless of country and culture. Personally, I believe that there was still a certain tradition of trying to avoid fighting at Christmas and Easter, the strongest dates of the Christian faith and when, at least Catholics, had the "truce of God" tradition, which is a truce of a few days to celebrate and pray. Even though there is no link between the "truce of God" and what happened in 1914, the fulfilment of these informal truces was the last time that a generalized military conflict stopped for religious reasons, and it serves for us to understand (as those soldiers also understood) that there is much more uniting peoples than separating them, and dialogue solutions are always preferable to war. In the following year, 1915, the Germans still wanted to repeat these truces, but the allied military did not give them any possibilities. The increase in the intensity and ferocity of the war would, over time, put an end on any chance of fraternization.

The film, I think, managed to approach the essence of this issue, that is to show what united those soldiers, divided by flags, uniforms and trenches. To show that faith in God and humanity can unite different peoples and stop wars, opening space for new ways of dialogue. If those commanders had those power, they would certainly have been able to negotiate reasonable peace terms between their countries right there, because they saw the enemy's human side, they saw that the enemy is just another man with a family, who thinks the same way and also wants to return home. Of course, the film also has a lot of fictional elements, like the opera singers, but it's a film, not a documentary, and I handled it well. If we exclude these fictional notes, the film is very well done and has a lot of historical rigour, in addition to being quite politically neutral, that is, it avoids falling into the error of classifying the "heroes" and the "villains".

Its a European film, made in co-production between several countries, and it was certainly a very happy and successful effort. It seems to me unnecessary to speak of the cast as I am not an expert on European actors and I do not know any of those involved here. Anyway, the cast did a very good job and the fact that there are no famous names was good, allowing us to see the character better instead of the actor who plays it. Diane Kruger and Benno Fürmann are the exception to this rule, being the only actors I have recognized from previous work. They did well, but they are footnotes in a film that was not made for them to shine. They also pretend to sing, but the voices we hear, which are magnificent, belong to the professional lyric singers Natalie Dessay and Rolando Villazón. In particular, I think the best actors in this film were Guillaume Canet (who gave life to French officer Audebert), Gary Lewis (who played the Scottish Protestant pastor, the character responsible for the most markedly spiritual and ecumenical moments in this film) and Daniel Brühl (the German official).

Technically, it is a film that does not excel in showy production values but has quality and a lot of visual beauty, to which a careful cinematography, with good color and light, largely contributes. The costumes are very interesting and visually well made, but sometimes they seem too clean for soldiers who have been in the mud for weeks. The music is discreet but includes great bagpipe Scottish tunes and beautiful lyric pieces, which are in the ear and will be wonderful in the film.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

TaylorB

Dec 30, 2006

I have heard about the actual event, and it was captured just as I thought it might have been. As i said when i finished watching it, "it did a lot to restore my faith in the inherent good of humans" Thank you.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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

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.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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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