2008 Woodie Awards
IFS: 'Joyeux Noël' shows war at peace
Gabriel Guerrero
Issue date: 11/16/07 Section: Entertainment
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The day is December 24, 1914. Three armies separated by a small tract of land lay down their weapons and cease hostilities in one of the most humanitarian moments in history ever to be retold on film.
The opening credits are immediately followed by a series of three school children, each of a different nationality, (Scottish, French and German) as they sing, in their respective languages, why it is God's will that they vanquish their opponents on the battlefield.
It is ironic that it is the celebration of the birth of Christ which brings the three military factions together in a display of fraternal understanding and peace.
"Joyeux Noël," written and directed by Christian Carion, is a piece of historical fiction based on events that transpired on Christmas Eve of 1914 during World War I.
Carion's illustration of one of the most beautiful moments in our history as the human race is both touching and bittersweet.
Throughout the duration of the film it becomes clear that each soldier misses their families and wishes for the horrors they have each experienced to come to an end.
The tale follows the stories of soldiers on all sides of the war, volunteers and draftees alike.
The character Sprink (Benno Furmann), a German tenor drafted into a soldier, is perhaps one of the more interesting stories presented in the film.
Sprink's lover, Anna Sorensen (Diane Kruger), cajoles her way into a performance before the German prince and a small group of German officers in a ploy to see Sprink after being separated from her lover during a span of several months.
After the two conclude their performance, Sprink explains that he must return to the front lines in order to sing to his comrades, and Sorensen insists that she accompanies him.
For those of you who are large movie nerds like me, you may remember Furmann from the German film "The Princess and the Warrior," in which he starred opposite Franka Potente.
Again Furmann proves he is an impressively accomplished actor.
The sets used in the film are dark and oppressive, detailing the living conditions of the soldiers as they inhabited trenches for months at a time.
Solid acting and a formidable script make this one of my favorite Christmas movies ever.
In the spirit of Christmas, keep your champagne and alcoholic eggnog in tow and attend the screening of this movie.
It is a brilliant film that will leave many eyes misty and many a person thankful for the sacrifices made by soldiers forced to fight the endless number of rich man's wars that make up our history.
- Gabriel Guerrero is a senior English major and The Mirror's IFS columnist.
The opening credits are immediately followed by a series of three school children, each of a different nationality, (Scottish, French and German) as they sing, in their respective languages, why it is God's will that they vanquish their opponents on the battlefield.
It is ironic that it is the celebration of the birth of Christ which brings the three military factions together in a display of fraternal understanding and peace.
"Joyeux Noël," written and directed by Christian Carion, is a piece of historical fiction based on events that transpired on Christmas Eve of 1914 during World War I.
Carion's illustration of one of the most beautiful moments in our history as the human race is both touching and bittersweet.
Throughout the duration of the film it becomes clear that each soldier misses their families and wishes for the horrors they have each experienced to come to an end.
The tale follows the stories of soldiers on all sides of the war, volunteers and draftees alike.
The character Sprink (Benno Furmann), a German tenor drafted into a soldier, is perhaps one of the more interesting stories presented in the film.
Sprink's lover, Anna Sorensen (Diane Kruger), cajoles her way into a performance before the German prince and a small group of German officers in a ploy to see Sprink after being separated from her lover during a span of several months.
After the two conclude their performance, Sprink explains that he must return to the front lines in order to sing to his comrades, and Sorensen insists that she accompanies him.
For those of you who are large movie nerds like me, you may remember Furmann from the German film "The Princess and the Warrior," in which he starred opposite Franka Potente.
Again Furmann proves he is an impressively accomplished actor.
The sets used in the film are dark and oppressive, detailing the living conditions of the soldiers as they inhabited trenches for months at a time.
Solid acting and a formidable script make this one of my favorite Christmas movies ever.
In the spirit of Christmas, keep your champagne and alcoholic eggnog in tow and attend the screening of this movie.
It is a brilliant film that will leave many eyes misty and many a person thankful for the sacrifices made by soldiers forced to fight the endless number of rich man's wars that make up our history.
- Gabriel Guerrero is a senior English major and The Mirror's IFS columnist.
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