Joyeux Noel captures a rare moment of grace from one of the worst wars in the history of mankind, World War I. On Christmas Eve, 1914, as German, French, and Scottish regiments face each other from their respective trenches, a musical call-and-response turns into an impromptu cease-fire, trading chocolates and champagne, playing soccer, and comparing pictures of their wives. But when Christmas ends, the war returns...Joyeux Noel has been justly accused of sentimentality, but if any subject warrants such an earnest and hopeful treatment, it's the horrors of trench warfare. The largely unknown cast--the more familiar faces include Diane Kruger (Troy), Daniel Bruhl (Good Bye Lenin!), Benno Furmann (The Princess and the Warrior), and Gary Lewis (Billy Elliot)--deliver low-key but effective performances as the movie dwells on the everyday elements of life in the face of war. Based on a true incident (though considerably fictionalized). --Bret Fetzer
Stills from Joyeux Noel (click for larger image) |
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 Worth Weighing |
| Review Date: November 23, 2006 |
| Reviewer: Eric Wilson, Nashville, TN United States |
With our country at war and Christmas coming up, this seemed like a timely movie to share with my family. I'd heard it was based on actual events from World War I, a Christmas Eve on which three sides of the war in the trenches laid down their weapons to share in an evening of peace.
"Joyeux Noel" is not only beautifully directed and photographed, it uses a cast of great actors. The story revolves around a Scottish priest caught up in the drama, two German opera singers caught between love and patriotism, and a French lieutenant missing his pregnant, sick wife. Other characters are included as the movie meanders toward the momentous evening on December 24, 1914. For American audiences raised on constant drama, this might seem to lack fireworks; yet the ideas here are potent, made all the more so by their basis in fact. When one man makes a simple sacrifice for the sake of his superior, he pays a price that underlines the irony of war.
In conclusion, the movie is a moving tribute to men of three nations who saw past hate and political intrigue long enough to share in their humanity. The true enemies reveal themselves as those who stick dogmatically to their own agendas. This is a message worth weighing--spiritually and politically--in light of our current Christmas situation. |
Let There Be peace On Earth
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| Review Date: September 6, 2006 |
| Reviewer: GTO Guy, Port Jefferson Station, New York |
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. |
Europe's Christian and Musical Roots, then and now
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| Review Date: November 7, 2006 |
| Reviewer: Magalini Sabina, Rome Italy |
Watching this delightful, deep and orginal movie I suddenly realized why John Paul II was so disappointed when the European Constitution failed to mention Christianity as one of the founding pillars of Europe.
Based on a true episode that took place on Christmas Eve of 1914 (and probably was repeated in other similar occasions) along the Western Front in France, Christian Carion builds up a Christmas tale that signals out the common ideals and beliefs of British (Scots), French and German soldiers.
In the hell of opposing trenches a Christmas chant awakens longing, sadness and expecially friendship among allied Scots and French and their German enemies. Due to the great chivalitry of the troup comanders, that each in his own way represents the best of their cultures, a friendly truce takes place and continues during the following days, until the leading authorities (generals, bishops and fathers) discover what is considered the worse possible form of treason, "fraternization"!
The moving and supremely inspiring moment of the movie is the Mass, officiated by a Scottish clergyman (Gary Lewis), during which the "Ave Maria" is sung, but music intended as an emotional force, like the Christian ideals that then governed society, are present and at work all the time.
All the characters are very well etched and the actors are appropriately chosen. There are many marginal episodes that give a flavour of simple and suffering humanity, that however doesn't loose its dignity or sense of humor.
Revisionism of WWI historiography has been going on now for sometime, and the current opinion of the mass massacre wanted by economical/national powers is now well accepted. This movie does not dwell on such a modern concept, but somehow is born not only from this modern idea of history but also from the construction of a united European Nation.
Carion describes a beautiful and maybe sentimental episode but goes deep into its genesis and meaning, making this way a miliary movie that enriches young and old.
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"It came upon the midnight clear
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| Review Date: December 7, 2006 |
| Reviewer: Leonard Fleisig, Here, there and everywhere |
that glorious song of old,
from angels bending near the earth
to touch their harps of gold.
"Peace on earth, good will to men,
from heaven's gracious King.
The world in solemn stillness lay
to hear the angels sing."
On December 24, 1914 a spontaneous, unscheduled, unapproved truce among German, French and British soldiers took hold in various sectors along the front lines. Soldiers exchanged cigarettes and alcohol, played football (soccer), and allowed the removal and burial of dead soldiers from the frozen tundra of no mans land. "Joyeux Noel", a French-made film with an international cast directed by Christian Carion, is a fictionalized account of this truce. It is a wonderful film that in its own way stands with or close Stanley Kubrick's "Paths of Glory" as one of the great films about the horrors of what has come to be known as the First World War.
The film opens in the days and years before the start of the "Great War". We see British (in this instance Scottish), French, and German schoolchildren absorbing lessons in Kiplingesque nationalism and empire-building that taught each group that God was on their side and demonized the evil German, Briton, or French. After a quick introduction to the main characters the war begins in all its brutality. The Scottish and French troops rise up from their trenches and are mowed down by German machine-gunners. The dead and wounded are left in no-mans land. At the same time we see the respective high commands, enjoying the comfort of life war out of harms way. As night falls on Christmas Eve, German soldiers place small Christmas trees atop their trenches. A bagpiper plays a Christmas tune and the German soldiers applaud. A German enlisted man, a well-known singer (the relationship between the soldier and his Danish wife, also a singer form the basis of much of the plot) rises out of the trenches to sing Silent Night.
"Still through the cloven skies they come
with peaceful wings unfurled,
and still their heavenly music floats
o'er all the weary world;
above its sad and lowly plains
they bend on hovering wing,
and ever o'er its Babel-sounds
the blessed angels sing."
It is said that music hath charms to sooth the savage heart and in short order the German, French, and Scottish squad leaders (the "Three Wise Men"?) meet to discuss a short truce. The truce takes on a life of its own and forms the centerpiece of the rest of the film. The interaction amongst the soldiers is well crafted and well acted. There are even light moments as a stray dog routinely crosses the field of battle to take food from whatever army wishes to feed it. The cinema photography is lush without detracting from the story line. The songs sung by the soldiers as they observe the holiday truce are compelling. In the context of a war, even during a truce, the words to hymns of peace are tragically ironic. The words of peace must have been comforting but it is a comfort born of stolen moments and director Carion does an excellent job conveying the all too temporary nature of this reprieve.
"Yet with the woes of sin and strife
the world has suffered long;
beneath the heavenly hymn have rolled
two thousand years of wrong;
and warring humankind hears not
the tidings which they bring;
O hush the noise and cease your strife
and hear the angels sing!"
The film shows us the aftermath of the truce, the reaction of the high commands and it is these moments that bring Paths of Glory to mind.
Joyeux Noel is a beautifully drawn and acted film that very much deserved (and perhaps should have won) its Oscar, Golden Globe, and BAFTA nominations. Highly recommended. L. Fleisig
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The real meaning of Christmas.
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| Review Date: December 28, 2006 |
| Reviewer: Loo, Malaysia |
This is one film that truly shows the meaning of Christmas. Christmas is not about Santa and all worldly gifts but actually of love, kindness, forgiveness and humanity.
Presented in 3 languages - mostly English - Merry Christmas shows 3 armies caught in World War I France.How Christmas brings out the good in people and the brotherhood/sisterhood of man. The lessons of Jesus can be learnt and practiced for the good of mankind.
By the way, my Church pastor mentions this incident portrayed in this movie as part of the Christmas message. This is the true meaning of Christmas. Most glitzy children's shows about Christmas hardly shows the meaning of Christmas only the meaning of Christmas shopping.
Tres bien. Bravo. |
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