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). Taking advantage of the Christmas spirit, the enemy soldiers met together, and then sang, drank, and even played football together! This wonderful atmosphere lasted for a couple of days, until the reality of the war resumed, and they started fighting each other to death, again.
In the film, we watch a French unit, assisted by a Scottish regiment, who are trying to overtake a German position. The situation is bleak for everybody, and it seems that they are going to spend the most miserable Christmas of their lives. However, when an enlisted German tenor (and his surreptitiously brought wife) sing to their comrades on Christmas Eve, and they are joined by the Scots who accompany them with their instruments, something starts to change. Soon the commanders of the three units meet together, and agree on a one-day ceasefire. However, the ceasefire is just the beginning...
Although the specific story depicted in "Joyeux Noel" is fictional, it is so wonderfully presented that it could well be true. Not only has Christian Caron come up with an impeccable direction which brings us the exact atmosphere of the WW1 front, but also all the actors have done their best to be very persuasive in their roles. The result is solid and touching war drama, which is an hymn to the spirit of humanity in the midst of chaos. Well done! 10/10.
In the film, we watch a French unit, assisted by a Scottish regiment, who are trying to overtake a German position. The situation is bleak for everybody, and it seems that they are going to spend the most miserable Christmas of their lives. However, when an enlisted German tenor (and his surreptitiously brought wife) sing to their comrades on Christmas Eve, and they are joined by the Scots who accompany them with their instruments, something starts to change. Soon the commanders of the three units meet together, and agree on a one-day ceasefire. However, the ceasefire is just the beginning...
Although the specific story depicted in "Joyeux Noel" is fictional, it is so wonderfully presented that it could well be true. Not only has Christian Caron come up with an impeccable direction which brings us the exact atmosphere of the WW1 front, but also all the actors have done their best to be very persuasive in their roles. The result is solid and touching war drama, which is an hymn to the spirit of humanity in the midst of chaos. Well done! 10/10.