Joyeux Noël

Plot synopsis:
The story centers mainly upon six characters: Gordon (a Lieutenant of the Royal Scots Fusiliers); Audebert (a French Lieutenant in the 26th Infantry and reluctant son of a general); Horstmayer (a Jewish German Lieutenant of the 93rd Infantry); Palmer (a Scottish priest working as a stretcher-bearer); and German tenor Nikolaus Sprink and his Danish fiancée, mezzo-soprano, Anna Sørensen (two famous opera stars).
The film begins with scenes of schoolboys reciting patriotic speeches that both praise their countries and condemn their enemies. In Scotland, two young brothers, Jonathan and William, join up to fight, followed by their priest, Father Palmer, who becomes a chaplain. In Germany, Sprink is interrupted during a performance by a German officer announcing a reserve call up. Audebert looks at a photograph of his pregnant wife, whom he has had to leave behind (in the occupied part of France, just in front of his trench), and prepares to exit into the trenches for an Allied assault on German lines. However the assault fails with the French taking many casualties while William loses his life.
In Germany, Anna gets permission to perform for the soldiers and Sprink is allowed to accompany her. They spend a night together and then perform. Afterward, Sprink expresses bitterness at the comfort of the generals at their headquarters, and resolves to go back to the front to sing for the troops. Sprink is initially against Anna's decision to go with him, but he agrees shortly afterward.
The unofficial truce begins when the Scots begin to sing festive songs and songs from home, accompanied by bagpipes. Sprink and Sørensen arrive in the German front-line and Sprink sings for his comrades. As Sprink sings "Silent Night" he is accompanied by a piper in the Scottish front-line. Sprink responds to the piper and exits his trench with a small Christmas tree singing "Adeste Fideles". Following Sprink's lead the French, German, and Scottish officers meet in no-man's-land and agree on a cease-fire for the evening. The various soldiers meet and wish each other "Joyeux Noël", "Frohe Weihnachten", and "Merry Christmas". They exchange chocolate, champagne, and photographs of loved ones. Horstmayer gives Audebert back his wallet, with a photograph of his wife inside, lost in the attack a few days prior, and they connect over pre-war memories. Palmer and the Scots celebrate a brief Mass for the soldiers (in Latin as was the practice in the Catholic Church at that time) and the soldiers retire deeply moved. However, Jonathan remains totally unmoved by the events around him, choosing to grieve for his brother.
Father Palmer is being sent back to his own parish and his Battalion disbanded as a mark of shame. Despite emphasising the humanity and goodwill of the truce, he is rebuked by the bishop, who then preaches an anti-German sermon to new recruits, in which he describes the Germans as inhumane and commands the recruits to kill every one of them. Father Palmer overhears the preaching, and removes his cross as he leaves.
Back in the trenches, the Scots are ordered by a furious major (who is angered by the truce) to shoot a German soldier who is entering no-man's-land and crossing towards French lines. The soldiers deliberately miss in response but the German soldier is hit by a bitter Jonathan. Audebert, hearing the familiar alarm clock ringing outside, rushes out and discovers that the soldier is a disguised Ponchel, his batman. With his dying words, Ponchel reveals he gained help from the German soldiers, visited his mother, and had coffee with her. He also informs Audebert that he has a young son named Henri.
Audebert's punishment is being sent to Verdun, and he receives a dressing down from his father, a general. In a culminating rant, young Audebert upbraids his father, expressing no remorse at the fraternization at the front, and also his disgust for the civilians or superiors who talk of sacrifice but know nothing of the struggle in the trenches. He also informs the general about his new grandson Henri. Moved by this revelation, the general then recommends they "both try and survive this war for him".
Horstmayer and his troops, who are confined in a train, are informed by the Crown Prince that they are to be shipped to the Eastern Front, without permission to see their families as they pass through Germany. He then stomps on Jörg's harmonica, and says that Horstmayer does not deserve his Iron Cross. As the train departs, the Germans start humming a Scottish carol they learned from the Scots, L'Hymne des Fraternisés'/ I'm Dreaming Of Home.

Tags: anti war, violence, murder

Review:
By depicting a unique event in European war history that occurred on Christmas day 1914 it shows viewers that Europeans can be as one even as "enemies".About ten years ago I watched Paul McCartney's video "Pipes of Peace" and thought that what it depicted was completely fictitious--nothing more than pacifists' dreams.
'Joyeux Noël' is a story of war and its effects on soldiers that goes far beyond sentimentality (or the opposite emphasis on brutality as found in American films) and offers the viewer insights to the responses of young men's minds to the monster of war and how they cope.Based on a true story, the film opens with the usual callous killing among three groups of soldiers - German, French, and Scottish - who face an oncoming Christmas Eve in the trenches, the realities of fighting have precluded their getting time to retreat for air.
We get to know the French Lieutenant Audebert (Guillaume Canet) and his orderly Ponchel (Dany Boon), the German head of the regiment Horstmayer (Daniel Brühl), and the Scots - especially the priest/medic Palmer (Gary Lewis).Christmas Eve comes and the voice of Sprink (in reality the tenor Rolando Villazón) sings 'Stille Nacht', rising out of the trenches to sing in the open of no man's land.
For that moment in time the horrors of war melt and the camaraderie of the men glows and is carried into Christmas Day when all three groups of soldiers agree to bury their dead together.
The film ends in a manner that leaves the audience able to integrate the happenings of that Christmas Eve on the futures of these men.The script is superb, the cast is uniformly excellent, the sets and cinematography are creatively moody, and the musical score by Philippe Rombi is one of the finest in years: the ending song 'I'm Dreaming of Home' deserves to become a standard.
I think it may become my top film among several hundred seen this year, just as A Very Long Engagement - also set in the trenches of the First World War - captured my heart and critic's choice last December.
In addition to presenting a parable from real life relevant for any war-torn age, including our own I might add, Carion works wonders with front-line incidents great and small while drawing compelling individual character portraits from a top notch Scots, French and German cast, each speaking in their native language and accents.
Even had France not chosen Joyeux Nöel as its selection for the 2006 Oscar best foreign-language film category, I would herald it and rejoice in the advent of a new classic that is in another class altogether from the general run of "holiday movies".
A truly powerful and must see film about the futility of war.It depicts that whatever those in power would have us believe there are more similarities between various nationalities than differences.Wonderful performances by many little known actors.First class cinematography and other production values.Illustrates that there can be no war if if if you have no enemy.
It is impossible to kill a man with whom you have shared drinks and stories and grown to likeWonderful music and singing as those who have suffered and fought each other in the trenches slowly gather to mark Christmas Eve by drinking and talking with each other, swapping addresses, singing Christmas carols common to all three nations (Germany, France and Scotland), burying frozen corpses and playing soccer together.Not perfectly historically accurate but very close to an actual incident, A vivid illustration of the foolishness of war.
I wasn't sure if I was going to like this film but found it to be moving, heartwarming and a wonderful cinematic experience.The fact that the story is based on real events that happened shows that their is some good in humans across the world.
In this story, all sides are respected as humans and the soldiers come to understand that under God, we are all one.Please, even if you don't normally go to foreign language films or war movies, go to this film.
I shed a tear at the end, though I could see why the men needed to be moved from the front having made friends with 'the enemy.' I know that this is going to be a must see film for me every Christmas and I am eagerly awaiting the release of the DVD..
Telling the story of the extraordinary Christmas truce between waring soldiers in the trenches at Christmas 1914, it demonstrates just how ludicrous war really is and how the human spirit can overcome blind hatred.
At the beginning of Joyeux Noël, the director of the film said that it was based on a true story and that he wished that if we liked the movie, that we would tell everyone about it and recommend it.
As a rule I generally tend to blacklist war movies but this so different.This is in no way about the glorification of war but instead tells a tale of a group of human beings that see past their differences for one night.Apparently all based on true events known as the The Christmas Truce of 1914.I highly recommend this movie to any and all..
It is thought provoking about the obvious issues of war and peace and how the enemy looks like us.The film is set on Christmas Eve at the beginning of World War I.
Neither singer is required to enlist in the Great War, but they are both sent to the German front lines to entertain the troops on Christmas Eve.After a few more introductions, we see the Western Front of the war in France, with French, German, and Scottish soldiers engaging in combat that is far from romantic.
You see the trenches, not so much of the actual combat, but you don't have to guess how ugly the war actually was.Even worse, these soldiers are fighting on Christmas Eve, when many of them looked forward to returning home to their families.
It's even more astounding how great holiday songs become better through the darkest of times, and that is probably the point of the entire movie.Just like "It's A Wonderful Life", "Joyeux Noel" details a bleak time in history, and shows how the human spirit of generosity can make a world of difference through even the darkest times.
The director does a brilliant job in depicting three military units like the Germans, French, and the Scottish who are fighting the first Christmas away from their loved ones and facing an invisible enemy.
Despite being a dramatization, this film deftly captured the spirit and essence of the Christmas Eve Truce of World War I.
The one thing that struck me in watching the movie, was that the truce was most likely as successful as it was because the soldiers, the British, French, and Germans, all had a shared heritage that created a deeper connection that was able to cross over the boundaries of war, just as Union and Confederate troops did during the Civil War. As such, I would not draw upon it as a truly accurate analogy to modern day events, but it does speak volumes on how useless war can more than often be.
Joeux Noel doesn't show any of the true horrors of WW1,the trenches look far to clean there's no mud, rats,lethal barbed wire,hardly any carnage or dead mutilated bodies,not that i partically want to see that,but if this film is depicting WW1 then this is what you would expect to see because thats how it really was.The soldiers look far too bright and fresh and don't at all seem exhausted and fatigued or battle weary so it just doesn't convince that they have been fighting in a horrific war.For instance not one of them had shell shock when in reality many of them by that point would have had.
Because the film plays down the true horrors of war, when the actual scenes of the Christmas Truce happen it just doesn't seem to mean much,and its all very sudden there's no big build up and not much apprehension,as in reality the soldiers at first believed it was a trick,so they didn't all rush out to shake hands with the Germans as this film suggests.
Then what really ruins it for me is the female opera singer who is living in the German trenches who then comes out to sing{mime}to all the soldiers she is all elegantly dressed and of allthings she is wearing a bright red cape,how ridiculous is that.I know its good to stretch your imagination a bit but this is just going to far,there is no way she would have been allowed in the German trenches or any one else's for that matter,and this for me is where the story loses all credibility it just becomes more fiction which is a shame because there really is a good story to be told here.I've been interested in the Christmas Truce for years and have watched many documentaries about it and always thought it would make a great film,however this one just doesn't do it.
The movie is inspired by a true story about a Christmas Eve truce in 1914 during World War I between the Germans and the English but the story is badly distorted in the movie.
not the arrogance of the generals or the involvement of the church.The well documented, self-imposed WWI Christmas battlefield truce between the Germans, French and Scots is both chilling and heart-warming and really brings to light the outlandishness of war.
Consider all that, the likelihood of cultural tastes and of religious background, and the Christmas spirit itself - and you would realize that the true events behind the story of Joyeux Noel are much more likely than it would seem at first.This film does avoid the sharp edges here and there, making the story of fraternization among the enemy troops almost inevitable.
And that shaky balance between the humanity of you as a person and the duty imposed on you as a soldier is something that Joyeux Noel conveys beautifully.Yet while you are watching this film, you can't help coming back to the same thought over and over again.
A recreation of the infamous WW1 event, 'Noel' deals with the extraordinary circumstance when, during the first year of The Great War, French, German and Scots laid down arms and celebrated Christmas Eve and Day together, sharing gifts, singing hymns and playing football.
Stereotypes and barriers are broken down, and the soldiers begin to see each other as more than just 'the enemy'.A unique war film, 'Joyeux Noel' is more about the human capacity for forgiveness and understanding even in the face of such paramount horror and radical nationalism.
The fact that it's based on TRUE EVENTS only adds to the enchantment.This movie re-instilled my faith in human nature, at the same time that it reaffirmed my criticism of the "powers that be" who distort personkind's inclination for fellowship and foster wars.Enough said.
Historical records show that the singing of the Germans and their practice of putting the lighted trees along the edge of trench often precipitated the holiday fraternization.On the DVD, there is a most interesting interview with the writer and director that gives some good insight to his quest to tell this story on film.Even with the presence of war and death, this film - supported by beautiful music and superior production values - makes you feel good because it reaffirms man's basic humanity..
I've already begun recommending it, and can easily imagine watching it and showing it around Christmas-time for years to come.Its portrayal and exploration of the role of religion, like any dimension of the human person and society/culture, is entangled with the "angels of our better nature" (A.
Long story short, it's Christmas Eve, warring parties decide that it's better to have a truce during the holidays, during which Scots, French and Germans party like it's 1914.
Based on the true events of Christmas Eve 1914, Joyeux Noel really is one of the best Christmas films I have ever seen, tied with 'It's A Wonderful Life'.How this master piece didn't win its Oscar I have no idea, for it fully deserves it.
But as they meet on Christmas Eve you witness all that disappear.Wonderful actors like Daniel Brühl from Ladies in Lavender, Gary Lewis from Billy Elliot, Diane Kruger from National Treasure and a lot more really portray their characters flawlessly.A brilliant score finishes this epic film to create the kind of story you will never forget.Although I'd recommend waiting for an English release, the French one is a bit confusing!Highly recommended, you'll be wondering by the end, what was the point of the war?Fantastic..
The Scottish clergyman and the French barber are just two examples of character acting that cannot be topped.The Christmas Truce of 1914 is brought to life here, and as one character says about that brief moment of sanity and peace, "you were not there, so you cannot understand." But thanks to this film, the audience feels the privilege of participating in a true miracle.Ah, let's pray for a second miracle: that Spielberg will not attempt a re-make..
If you expect a genuine war movie with huge battles and a lot of action you will be disappointed.Instead what's waiting for you is a story that shows that there was a very special thing that happened during WWI, something that I thought to be impossible.
Even though many devastating events continue to happen on a daily basis, Joyeux Noel's Christmas scene made me hopeful for humanity, because even in the darkest moments of war, people were still able to recognize the joy and peace of this blessed day.
it doesn't just immortalize the true and honored story of "The Christmas Truce" of 1914 during the World War I, but gives a lesson about humanity and how pure morals could be spoilt by the war machine and by the widespread of ignorant hatred, I loved how the first scene resembled three school children from France, England and Germany all repeating a memorized speech of hatred against the other nations then the film ended with three scenes of the three supposedly confronting armies rejecting hatred and returning to their regular state of humanity.
On Christmas Eve 1914, while the Great War degenerated in a bloody stalemate with men entrenching themselves and slaughtering each other in mass, Some of them decided to lay down their guns and make a truce to celebrate Christmas without any bloodshed.They shared their meals, exchanged cherished ones pictures and for this very special Holy Night, learned to like each other like brothers instead of hating each other to death.Joyeux Noel is telling us this true story about soldiers who regained their human being status for one night and one day.
I remember seeing this movie in theaters almost 7 years ago, during the Holidays, and falling under its spell almost instantly.The main element of the story, unknown to me at that time, was that soldiers on both sides of the War decided to call a truce on that night.
Captivated by the singing of a German soldier who is also an opera tenor, on Christmas Eve, German, French and Scottish soldiers and officers come out of the trenches and fraternize like human beings, establishing a temporary ceasefire, celebrating Christmas and attending a mass said by a Scottish military chaplain.
Moving film about the Christmas truce in World War I.
A very good and moving French made film about the Christmas truce between the troops in the Western Front in 1914 during World War I.
It is, of course, inspired by true events that occurred around Christmas in 1914, and although it doesn't show everything exactly as it happened, it's certainly close enough.The acting is very convincing throughout, and I felt myself absolutely drawn into the film.I watched it on Christmas Day and was more than glad about my choice, as it could not have been more fitting for the occasion.Impressive though it is that soldiers in the trenches temporarily laid down their rifles, it's sad that it took a Christmas Holiday to achieve that.
The director and cast have created a work of art movie dedicated to those soldiers of World War I who overcame the hate propaganda and trauma and deaths of trench warfare to declare a spontaneous truce on Christmas eve to band together in no-man's land in friendship and mutual protection.
But Joyeux Noel (French for Merry Christmas) does not show us the great sacrifices made during battle but the shred of humanity these soldiers had left as Christmas Day approached the front line/We follow three different stories.
All that was left were two films; the Clint/ Japanese take on Iwo Jima which ended at @ 2h00am and MERRY Christmas(Joyeux Noel).It basically tells the story of the Christmas truce during the first World war.
Inspired in real facts, the film tells us about a history of French, Scottish and German soldiers that, during Christmas night decide to forget their hates and just stay with the enemy as a friend or an allied, showing us how easily is to achieve peace if people wants.
Based on true facts, "Joyeux Noel" tells us a touching story which while historically significant, is not widely known: In the midst of WW1, when lives where wasted among the trenches every day, a spontaneous truce was achieved on Christmas Eve by some soldiers of the three main warring sides (Germany, UK, and France).
and I almost cried at the end of the film because it was so emotional and the fact that it is based on the true story that happened on the western front during world war 1 makes it even better.
Joyeux Noel, takes a whole different view on War. Finally, we have a movie that doesn't show how cruel the soldiers were, but how human they were.