‘I’m not to be given, like a camel or a goat…’
Long time readers (thanks to all five of you) will know about my disdain for any film longer than 90 minutes. I stand by the assertion that if you can’t tell a story in an hour and a half, then you can’t tell a story at all. So for a Christmas film to breach the two and a half hour mark seems like utter madness. Any idiot who makes a Christmas film longer than 90 minutes should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart.
And yet…
Junon (Catherine Deneuve) is the matriarch of the troubled Vuillard family. A serious illness requires a bone-marrow transplant, reuniting the estranged family just in time for Christmas.
Firstly, this film is very French. That means characters will break off in the middle of the action to provide philosophical musings on life, death and sex, normally whilst pouring a glass of wine and smoking. I honestly don’t think there is a single scene in A Christmas Tale where at least one character isn’t smoking. No wonder they all have so many health issues.
While director Arnaud Desplechin’s film takes a long while to get going, if you can sit through the first half an hour, A Christmas Tale eventually reveals itself to be a fantastic character study that is consistently well acted despite the huge number of characters. Everyone brings something to the table here whether it be Anne Consigny’s steely Elizabeth or Melvil Poupaud’s brooding Ivan. Together this ensemble cast summon up a family that is relatable, believable and charismatic. And amidst all the death, there are elements of jet black humour if you dig deep enough.
When I first started 12 Days of Christmas Films it was never intended to go beyond that first year. After that it became a quest to discover once and for all what the definitive Christmas film is. Now, as we race towards the conclusion of the fifth and final year of this tinsel coated roller coaster, this article has became a way to discover more obscure Christmas films that I would never normally watch. A Christmas Tale is a classic example of the latter, and while it is a hard sell, if you are looking for something a bit different this Christmas, something with a bit more class and prestige, A Christmas Tale is the film for you. Just don’t expect Santa to make an appearance.