We decided this year not to dedicate all of December to Christmas movies. But . . . instead of focusing on the universally known films we have carefully chosen less well known European movies with Christmas themes.
Love Actually
Although I have specified less well known Christmas movies for this week‘s movie picks, this is not exactly the case for the very first movie. Love Actually, made in 2003, scored quite a success which eventually led the producers to come up with a sequal. Nevertheless, I think this film has what all Christmas movies should have – an adorable atmosphere, good humor, and yes, a happy ending, too.
Pelíšky (Cosy Dens)
Pelíšky is a film from 1999 that is fairly well known in the Czech Republic. It is one of those films where Christmas is not the main topic of the movie, but the film has become, nonetheless, a movie-to-be-watched-at-Christmas. The story takes place in 1967 and 1968 ( during the Russian occupation) and with humor and insight tells the story of generations within two families. Unforgettable are the scenes of Christmas customs in both families.
Joyeux Noël (Happy Christmas)
Miracles belong to Christmas, and here is a grand miracle based on real events. At some points along the front in the first December of World War I, men from both sides of the conflict made a one day truce to celebrate Christmas Eve in peace. The impossible became reality for one day, in 1914.
Un Conte de Noël (A Christmas Tale)
An unusual story of one family reunion over the Christmas dinner table. Against the background of a bone marrow transplant and the search for a suitable donor emerge old family secrets and hurts.
The Christmas Candle
And finally, a story set in the last decade of the 19th century in the English village of Gladbury, where the villagers believe in an old legend about a candle that can make Christmas miracles happen. A new young pastor comes with a bit of modernisation in mind. Nevertheless, the legend is deeply rooted in village society and has to be preserved. A beautiful costume film for Advent weekend.
Photo: IMDB
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