Without expectations
'Merry Christmas', supposedly a well-acclaimed foreign language film, is good. Boon Whye said it is a french film and jio our french class classmates along to watch at cineleisure, but actually, it is a triple language film. Actually dunno the title and the type of movie (i had thought it is just another comedy like the Taxis series i have watched, the only other french films i saw before) and just went to watch with them. Maybe because i din expect anything of the film, i enjoyed and was totally absorbed in the film.
It is a war film. The three countries involved were Scotland, France (two of them are allies) and Germany. So the Scottish spoke English, French spoke French and Germans spoke German. B/w French and Germans, they spoke mostly French. The three countries took up position at this frontline near France (I think). And a lot of hostilities. The scene started with each country kids being made to recite bad things about the enemy, like they are not real humans, its justified to kill everyone, including children and women etc...
Gist of the story: A German private soldier, a very famous singer, gets a night off the war front on christmas eve, due to his very longing wife, equally famous singer, pulling strings. Together they performed for the prince of Germany. However, he told his wife he have to get back to sing for his comrades. And together, they went back to the frontline (Sneaked back actually). Their comrades were of course surprise and the guy broke into christmas carol, Silent Night. Before this the Scottish were alreading blowing their musical instruments. Suddenly, the Scottish were heard playing the music of the song, Silent Night. Touched, the singer step out of the trench and sing so that his voice could be projected to them too. Absolutely shocked by his actions, the rest wer all trying to get him back down. The funny part is when he finished, cheers and clappings were heard from the Scottish side, and when the Germans went up to look, the Scottish soldiers were all sitting along their trenches, at the top. really a touching side. The singer then walk over the frontline to somewhere middle b/w them and .......
Anyway the important thing is, the French lieutenant, together with the Scottish and German counterpart, agreed to call for a truce just that night, and soon everyone was came out and drop their weapons and huddle together. The next day, still some uneasy tension, since the truce was over, but a digging sound could be heard and someone was trying to bury his brother and the three leaders met up again, to discuss the issue of handling the dead, and so everyone was buried, and the only priest among the soldiers, a Scottish, gave his blessings. Soon everyone was together again, even playing games like soccer.
Then next, the German leader walk over to the French and Scottish side and told his counterparts that the Germans artilleries will bomb in 10 mins. It is safer to come over to their trenches (everyone in the cinema was laughing loudly but to me it is really beautiful). And more funny conversation about how accurate the bombings were, and how a French lament that they will have to dig all over again... After the bombings were over, the French leader replied that their countries will soon replied with artilleries too,and so they shld go over too.
The ending is a sad one. Of course the war continued, but those few hundred men were disgraced in their own countries and being given all sort of label and punishment. Some meaningful conversation took place here, like the priest was screwed by his higher authority and said and did something which really disgust me. The French commander was screwed too but he rebuked that he felt much more with those Germans on the other side, than those that had give the orders about.
Finally the film was dedicated to those soldiers who had participated in such truce (they had a term for it) in all parts of the World during World War I during Christmas eve. Anyway think i really like the film, haha. It gives a realistic view of the soldiers (i think usually Germans were more badly protrayed). Its main principle is something which i had just read about in 'The Four Noble Truth' by Ajahn Sumedho. Plus you get to listen to French, German and some English. I confirm will get the VCD or DVD, if it comes out.
It is a war film. The three countries involved were Scotland, France (two of them are allies) and Germany. So the Scottish spoke English, French spoke French and Germans spoke German. B/w French and Germans, they spoke mostly French. The three countries took up position at this frontline near France (I think). And a lot of hostilities. The scene started with each country kids being made to recite bad things about the enemy, like they are not real humans, its justified to kill everyone, including children and women etc...
Gist of the story: A German private soldier, a very famous singer, gets a night off the war front on christmas eve, due to his very longing wife, equally famous singer, pulling strings. Together they performed for the prince of Germany. However, he told his wife he have to get back to sing for his comrades. And together, they went back to the frontline (Sneaked back actually). Their comrades were of course surprise and the guy broke into christmas carol, Silent Night. Before this the Scottish were alreading blowing their musical instruments. Suddenly, the Scottish were heard playing the music of the song, Silent Night. Touched, the singer step out of the trench and sing so that his voice could be projected to them too. Absolutely shocked by his actions, the rest wer all trying to get him back down. The funny part is when he finished, cheers and clappings were heard from the Scottish side, and when the Germans went up to look, the Scottish soldiers were all sitting along their trenches, at the top. really a touching side. The singer then walk over the frontline to somewhere middle b/w them and .......
Anyway the important thing is, the French lieutenant, together with the Scottish and German counterpart, agreed to call for a truce just that night, and soon everyone was came out and drop their weapons and huddle together. The next day, still some uneasy tension, since the truce was over, but a digging sound could be heard and someone was trying to bury his brother and the three leaders met up again, to discuss the issue of handling the dead, and so everyone was buried, and the only priest among the soldiers, a Scottish, gave his blessings. Soon everyone was together again, even playing games like soccer.
Then next, the German leader walk over to the French and Scottish side and told his counterparts that the Germans artilleries will bomb in 10 mins. It is safer to come over to their trenches (everyone in the cinema was laughing loudly but to me it is really beautiful). And more funny conversation about how accurate the bombings were, and how a French lament that they will have to dig all over again... After the bombings were over, the French leader replied that their countries will soon replied with artilleries too,and so they shld go over too.
The ending is a sad one. Of course the war continued, but those few hundred men were disgraced in their own countries and being given all sort of label and punishment. Some meaningful conversation took place here, like the priest was screwed by his higher authority and said and did something which really disgust me. The French commander was screwed too but he rebuked that he felt much more with those Germans on the other side, than those that had give the orders about.
Finally the film was dedicated to those soldiers who had participated in such truce (they had a term for it) in all parts of the World during World War I during Christmas eve. Anyway think i really like the film, haha. It gives a realistic view of the soldiers (i think usually Germans were more badly protrayed). Its main principle is something which i had just read about in 'The Four Noble Truth' by Ajahn Sumedho. Plus you get to listen to French, German and some English. I confirm will get the VCD or DVD, if it comes out.
