JOYEUX NOEL director Christian Carion uses stories handed down from his grandmother to craft a poignant, old-fashioned WWII epic, featuring a rousing original score from film legend Ennio Morricone.
“A tense, emotionally powerful movie that looks at the innocent victims of war and madness. The acting, cinematography, and production values are superb. It’s a must-see.”
– Michael Calleri, Niagara Gazette and WECK Radio Buffalo
“Suspenseful and touching….reminds viewers of the hardships faced by refugees of war, then and now.”
– Mark Sommer, The Buffalo News
“Carion is a sort of Gallic Spielberg. He skillfully handles the interplay of sweep and big effects with smaller, emotional scenes.”
– George Sax, The Public
“Suspenseful.”
– Glenn Kenny, The New York Times
“A beautiful, poignant and illuminating French film that manages to make a familiar history lesson seem freshly observed.”
– Rex Reed, New York Observer
“Has the solid narrative pleasures of a good, old-fashioned Hollywood war epic.”
– Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor
May 1940. To escape the imminent German invasion, the inhabitants of a small village in northern France flee their homes, like so many millions of their compatriots. Max, a German boy, travels with them. His father, Hans, opposed the Nazi regime and was imprisoned in Arras for having lied about his nationality. Hans is eventually set free and sets off to find his son, accompanied by a Scottish soldier who is trying to get back home. (C) Cohen Media
