Joyeux Noel Movie Review 2005

On Christmas Eve, during World War I in France, troops on both sides of the battlefield laid down their weapons in unified holiday spirit for a performance of "Silent Night" by a German soldier, and famed tenor named Sprink, along with his wife. Drinking, cheering, and even some soccer followed, right there in the trenches. This really happened, and it makes for the perfect centerpiece in this postmodern French Christmas miracle movie. WWI is a backdrop to the human turmoil faced by German, French, and Scottish troops at war. An almost ironically surreal melodrama that's just as sad as it is joyous. Nominated for Best Foreign Film Oscar.

Distribution

Available on DVD
Running time 110 minutes.
Originally from French, German, British, Belgian, Romanian.

Cast and Crew

Genres

World War I, Anti-War War Movies, Historical Drama, Christmas, Nuns & Priests, Peace, Soccer, Opera, Scotland, Big Battles, True Stories

Screenplay

Christian Carion

Cast

Diane Kruger, Benno Furmann, Guillaume Canet, Gary Lewis, Daniel Bruhl, Steven Robertson, Lucas Belvaux, Bernard Le Coq, Ian Richardson, Robin Laing, Suzanne Flon, Michel Serrault, Dany Boon, Alex Ferns, Frank Witter, Thomas Schmauser, Joachim Bissmeier

Cinematography

Walther Vanden Ende

Director

Christian Carion

Music

Philippe Rombi

Other

Pierre Mertens, Andrea Sedlackova, Jean-Michel Simonet, Alison Forbes-Myer

Producer

Christophe Rossignon, Nord-Ouest, TF-1 Films, Senator Films Produktion, Artemis Films Production, Media Pro Pictures, UGC