Tuesday, December 2, 2008

The French Don't Like Christmas

Last night the MNMN selection was A Christmas Tale, which we saw at the Crest. It was a pretty full movie, with a large number of older patrons.

The movie was, in a word, French. Everything about it, in all its 2 1/2 hour glory, reminded me that it was a French movie. I don't even know what that means, except that this movie had virtually nothing to do with Christmas and lacked any sense of Christmas cheer. I knew that from reading the reviews things were not going to get better just because Christmas dinner was being served. But for a moment there, I forgot that the film even took place over the holidays.

(unrelated sidenote: a Jay Baker look-a-like just walked past my office window, looking quite dapper in a full suit!)

The film was similar to Rachel Getting Married, in that it was about a screwed up family. Unfortunately, I'm still not quite sure where all the disfunction comes from. Much like a real family, the plot lines are confusing and messy. Maybe I don't relate, because my family is perfect. In the end, the French know that Christmas is just one day, but messed up families are forever. The crazies are still related to you, even if it's not a holiday.

It's no Elf, but the characters were complex, real, and charming. You're not sure exactly where the conflict lies and who is to blame. Everyone is a little messed up, no one is perfect and Grandpa is inexplicably sweet.

1 comment:

Picwell said...

"In the end, the French know that Christmas is just one day, but messed up families are forever."

Best line ever!