There have been tons of war movies with messages. It is also evident that violence is taken as the prime medium to even boost up the preaching of anti-war. There is definitely nothing wrong in it, but bringing out a message stronger than the movies with gore in it by unconventional yet truthful harmony of humanity is an unusual welcome for the movie industry. Here comes, “Merry Christmas” directed by Christian Carion which accomplishes it without any problems. Before I even get into the details of the movie, I would like to say that this is one of the best (anti) war movies I have ever seen in my entire life till date (I believe that I may get lost in praising the movie and forget to tell this).The film is set during the World War – I. There is focus on four to five characters even though the film is on broader range than those few. The Scottish, the Germans and the French are lined up to fire upon each other. It is December and it is Christmas. All the soldiers get reminded of their life before the war. Then there is the famous singer who comes all the way to the front line to visit her singing husband. This is where all the magical things start to happen. I would not want to spoil the unimaginable joyful thing happening in the movie and I leave it to the viewers to watch it. Having said that, I will focus on the performances and a few of the various important contents conveyed by the movie.
Diane Kruger plays as Anna Sorensen who comes all the way to get that one night with her husband who is a singer as like her in the front line. She is convincing as the opera singer passionate for her art and love. Benno Fürmann as Sprink, husband of Anna is inspiring and bold. He is there against his conviction and does not shy to show it to the authorities. He forms the genesis of the magical moment in that “Silent Night”. Guillaume Canet as Lieutenant Audebert, Gary Lewis as Palmer, Daniel Brühl as Horstmayer and the actor playing the Scottish Captain honour their roles.
The technical department of the film underplays on purpose for the importance of the content. They do not try anything fancy but at the same time support the situations and sequences in a mellowed fashion. In a trend of complex screenplays, non-linear editing and breath taking visuals, these technicians appreciate the content of the movie and decide to tone it down to brighten the concepts.
There lies this beauty to this art which makes most of the people to forget their origins, beliefs and cause in a particular place. It is no surprise that this film embraced this technique. The surprising news is that it all happens in the most unusual place, the war zone. It can be argued that there will not be a better place to forget all the pains and fears through art in any situation, but is it possible for it to eradicate the hatred ness and of all the bullet fires all together for a few moments? The film gives the answer and it is based on the true events which happened all around the war zone during those times. Films like these not only give hope on the movie industry but also the factor of having those creators in this world. “Merry Christmas” is a movie which is profound and touching. It reminds us of our emotions. “Letters from Iwo Jima” gave a different perspective on war with respect to the oppositions and the feeling of humanity in everyone. “Merry Christmas” came in 2005 and it does the same but in the most heart warming fashion any one could imagine. In a world wherein there is not a day goes by without the news channel informing about the brutal calamity caused by the hatred of war and this film could not have come at any better time than ever. This film reminds all that regardless of time and advanced technology, the situation and the butchering of humanity still remains the same. Regardless of that, there is an emotion being attached among us which needs to be tapped to show our feelings for fellow men and women. “Merry Christmas” is a movie which cannot be engulfed in any reviews or awards. This movie while more than deserves its appreciation should be a mandatory watch for all the people in this world. “Merry Christmas” is the time for the celebration to embark on a journey filled with love and art to remind us our reason to live, which is “to live”.
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