Joyeux Noël

original title:
Joyeux Noël
other titles:
Merry Christmas
country / year of production:
France , Germany , Romania , Belgium / 2005
original length:
116 min. , color
premiere:
16 May 2005, Cannes Film Festival
genre:
melodrama
based on:
director:
Christian Carion
film script:
Christian Carion
producer:
cinematographer:
editor:
composer:
cast (role):
Diane Kruger , Natalie Dessay , Benno Fürmann
more:
plot synopsis:
The film deals with the encounter of German, French and British soldiers on Christmas Eve in 1914 at the western front. For a short time the soldiers, who are tired of fighting, stop the brutal battle, to celebrate christmas together. They put up candles and change presents. The armistice is like a wonder and unites soldiers from three nations. But the avowal of friendship is stoped by the command.
keywords:
trench warfare , insubordination , behind enemy lines , collaboration , battle-fatigue , authenticity
war:
First World War (1914-1918)
literature:
Marc Ferro (Ed.). Frères de tranchées. Paris: Perrin, 2005.

Michael Jürgs. Der kleine Frieden im großen Krieg. Westfront 1914: Als Deutsche, Franzosen und Briten gemeinsam Weihnachten feierten. München: Bertelsmann, 2003.

remarks:
Homepage: http://www.merrychristmas-themovie.com/

Nominated for the Golden Globe.
availability: