Christmas movies don’t always need schmaltz. A good story with realistic characters can illustrate the meaning of the season and is found in these five choices.
Comfort and Joy, 1984, Bill Forsythe, Director
This subtle comedy tells the story of a radio host Alan Bird (Bill Patterson) whose girlfriend has just left him. After witnessing an attack on an ice cream van, his observant nature leads him in the middle of a feud between competitive vendors. Bird is a likable character whose curiosity gets the best of everyone.
Joyeux Noel (Merry Christmas), 2005, Christian Carion Director
Chronicling the World War I Christmas truce between German, French and Scottish soldiers, this film has some amazing performances. Benno Furmann and Diane Kruger portray opera singers Nikolaus Sprink and Anna Sorensen who perform for the German soldiers. Their goodwill spills over to the French and Scottish soldiers in the trenches. The consequences of these actions are frowned upon by each of their superiors, but the soldiers show no regret for the time they spent together.
Millions, 2005, Danny Boyle, Director
When two young brothers, Damian (Alex Atel) and Anthony (Lewis McGibbon), find a suitcase of money in a field, Damian believes it to be a miracle. While Damian wants to redistribute his new found wealth to others during the Christmas season, Anthony is looking for ways to spend it. The money is really the result of a heist, and the robbers are coming back for it. The movie has humor, suspense and a lot of heart.
Noel, 2004, Chazz Palminteri, Director
Five lives intersect in this New York Christmas story. Rose Collins (Susan Sarandon) is a single woman whose mother is suffering from Alzheimer’s. She visits her daily at the hospital and is moved by the patient in the next room. Mike Riley (Paul Walker) is an extremely jealous police officer engaged to Nina Vasquez (Penelope Cruz). He meets the eccentric Artie Venzuela (Alan Arkin) at a diner and helps him with forgiveness. In doing this act of kindness, he learns to let go of his jealousy. Jules Calvert (Marcus Thomas) is trying to re-enact a Christmas from his childhood. There are some predictable moments in this film, but overall it is a satisfying story.
Smoke, 1995, Wayne Wang, Director
Although this isn’t categorized as a Christmas movie, it is a moving story to watch during the holiday season. Centered around a Brooklyn, New York cigar shop, the manager Auggie Wren (Harvey Keitel) develops a friendship with a novelist Paul Benjamin (William Hurt). In the final chapter of the film, Paul is commissioned to write a Christmas story. Auggie tells him a holiday tale that shows how reaching out to a stranger can bring joy in surprising ways.
Curling up with a good movie is one way to relieve holiday stress. Maybe these films will provide a much needed break and a good story.
