Take Two is a series from reporters (and movie buffs) Fritz Freudenberger and Isabelle Curtis to review entertainment options in the region. This Christmas season, our pick is the 2005 foreign language film, “Joyeux Noël,” written and directed by Christian Carion, starring Benno Fürmann, Guillaume Canet and Daniel Brühl. It is available on Netflix under the title “Merry Christmas.” 

Is: First off, this film deserves flowers for its sheer ambition. Set during WWI, “Joyeux Noël” is told from the perspectives (and languages) of German, French and Scottish soldiers in a fictionalized, amalgamated version of the 1914 Christmas truces that broke out in the trenches of No Man’s Land.   

With so much to balance, our protagonists don’t stray far from their archetypes in this Christmas fable, but that isn’t a criticism. The strength of the film comes in its message, and it doesn’t need complex characters to tell it. While “peace on earth, goodwill towards man” isn’t a revolutionary theme for a Christmas movie, the film’s belief in a shared humanity and the ridiculous, insidious lengths that those in power will go to divide common people remains increasingly relevant.   

Also, I will be vague to avoid spoiling the film’s most impactful scene, but the use of music as a universal language was beautifully done, and I did tear up multiple times. The power of love and human connection always gets to me!   

My actual critiques lie in the pacing. The film’s two-hour runtime isn't egregious, although there were some scenes that could have been left on the cutting room floor. Sometimes, I also had trouble telling the plethora of mustached soldiers apart, which may be more of a “me problem,” but it felt worth mentioning.  

As I get older, I have more appreciation for somber Christmas tales where people snatch moments of joy from their otherwise dreary conditions, even if it's not enough to guarantee a happy ending. If that’s something that resonates with you, then “Joyeux Noël” may be worth the watch.  

3.5/5 Christmas trees 

Fritz: When we were deciding on this month’s film, we wanted to review a Christmas movie but wanted something not very well known. Something different. In that vein, “Joyeux Noël” delivers. It’s not always an easy movie to watch, but it is touching and filled with emotion.  

Yes, it’s a Christmas movie. It’s about people coming together in the face of desperate conflict to share a glimpse of their common humanity. Fresh-faced young men, scared and scarred by the horrors of trench warfare, looking for comfort and companionship. Despite conditions, they find joy wherever they can. Which, for a viewer, makes for more powerful heartwarming moments than a Hallmark holidayfest.  

The story revolves around three young officers and a drafted opera singer timidly reaching out across enemy lines to create meaningful connections. And, perhaps by design, none of the characters really stand out, enforcing the underlying message that we aren’t that different after all. 

Overall, the creators seemed to be more interested in making an anti-war movie with Christmas as the backdrop. It spares no punches critiquing powers that be who fan the flames of war in the name of God, country, or king. One telling scene shows a lavish officer’s holiday party in a manor well behind the front lines, while young men freeze in the trenches with meager holiday rations, surrounded by fallen comrades in the snow. Merry Christmas, indeed. 

From a technical perspective, the film doesn't hit high marks. It’s a little long, and several operatic singing performances seem out of place, unaided by poor studio dubbing.  

However, it succeeds where many fail: It makes you feel. I was left with warm faith in our human ability to connect with one another, but I also felt lingering sadness. Is this movie for everyone? No. But if you want a different kind of Christmas film that touches a range of the human condition, it could be for you. 

3.5/5 Christmas trees