FemaleFirst.co.uk: DVD: Joyeux Noel [DVD]

Joyeux Noel [DVD]
enlarge	Director: Christian Carion Actors: Gary Lewis, Diane Kruger, Daniel Bruhl, Benno Furmann, Guillaume Canet Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Category: DVD List Price: ~~£15.99~~ Buy New: £2.68 as of 24/11/2009 10:44 GMT details You Save: £13.31 (83%) New (11) Used (4) from £2.40 Seller: great_entertainment Rating: 24 reviews Sales Rank: 9050 Format: Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen Languages: English (Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired), Hindi (Subtitled), Italian (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), English (Original Language), Italian (Dubbed) Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over Region: 2 Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Number Of Discs: 1 Running Time: 116 Minutes Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2 Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6 EAN: 5035822226937 ASIN: B000HWXQH0 Release Date: November 6, 2006 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days


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Editorial Reviews: Amazon.co.uk Review IJoyeux Noel/I captures a rare moment of grace from one of the worst wars in the history of mankind, World War I. On Christmas Eve, 1914, as German, French, and Scottish regiments face each other from their respective trenches, a musical call-and-response turns into an impromptu cease-fire, trading chocolates and champagne, playing soccer, and comparing pictures of their wives. But when Christmas ends, the war returns...IJoyeux Noel/I has been justly accused of sentimentality, but if any subject warrants such an earnest and hopeful treatment, it's the horrors of trench warfare. The largely unknown cast--the more familiar faces include Diane Kruger (ITroy/I), Daniel Bruhl (IGood Bye Lenin!/I), Benno Furmann (IThe Princess and the Warrior/I), and Gary Lewis (IBilly Elliot/I)--deliver low-key but effective performances as the movie dwells on the everyday elements of life in the face of war. Based on a true incident (though considerably fictionalized). I--Bret Fetzer/I

Customer Reviews: Showing reviews 1-5 of 24 1 2 3 4 5 Next » It came upon the midnight clear December 11, 2006 Leonard Fleisig (Washington, D.C.) 10 out of 22 found this review helpful that glorious song of old, br /from angels bending near the earth br /to touch their harps of gold. br /"Peace on earth, good will to men, br /from heaven's gracious King. br /The world in solemn stillness lay br /to hear the angels sing." br / br /On December 24, 1914 a spontaneous, unscheduled, unapproved truce among German, French and British soldiers took hold in various sectors along the front lines. Soldiers exchanged cigarettes and alcohol, played football, and allowed the removal and burial of dead soldiers from the frozen tundra of no mans land. "Joyeux Noel", a French-made film with an international cast directed by Christian Carion, is a fictionalized account of this truce. It is a wonderful film that in its own way stands with or close Stanley Kubrick's "Paths of Glory" as one of the great films about the horrors of what has come to be known as the First World War. br / br /The film opens in the days and years before the start of the "Great War". We see British (in this instance Scottish), French, and German schoolchildren absorbing lessons in Kiplingesque nationalism and empire-building that taught each group that God was on their side and demonized the evil German, Briton, or French. After a quick introduction to the main characters the war begins in all its brutality. The Scottish and French troops rise up from their trenches and are mowed down by German machine-gunners. The dead and wounded are left in no-mans land. At the same time we see the respective high commands, enjoying the comfort of life war out of harms way. As night falls on Christmas Eve, German soldiers place small Christmas trees atop their trenches. A bagpiper plays a Christmas tune and the German soldiers applaud. A German enlisted man, a well-known singer (the relationship between the soldier and his Danish wife, also a singer form the basis of much of the plot) rises out of the trenches to sing Silent Night. br / br /"Still through the cloven skies they come br /with peaceful wings unfurled, br /and still their heavenly music floats br /o'er all the weary world; br /above its sad and lowly plains br /they bend on hovering wing, br /and ever o'er its Babel-sounds br /the blessed angels sing." br / br /It is said that music hath charms to sooth the savage heart and in short order the German, French, and Scottish squad leaders (the "Three Wise Men"?) meet to discuss a short truce. The truce takes on a life of its own and forms the centerpiece of the rest of the film. The interaction amongst the soldiers is well crafted and well acted. There are even light moments as a stray dog routinely crosses the field of battle to take food from whatever army wishes to feed it. The cinema photography is lush without detracting from the story line. The songs sung by the soldiers as they observe the holiday truce are compelling. In the context of a war, even during a truce, the words to hymns of peace are tragically ironic. The words of peace must have been comforting but it is a comfort born of stolen moments and director Carion does an excellent job conveying the all too temporary nature of this reprieve. br / br /"Yet with the woes of sin and strife br /the world has suffered long; br /beneath the heavenly hymn have rolled br /two thousand years of wrong; br /and warring humankind hears not br /the tidings which they bring; br /O hush the noise and cease your strife br /and hear the angels sing!" br / br /The film shows us the aftermath of the truce, the reaction of the high commands and it is these moments that bring Paths of Glory to mind. br / br /Joyeux Noel is a beautifully drawn and acted film that very much deserved (and perhaps should have won) its Oscar, Golden Globe, and BAFTA nominations. Highly recommended. L. Fleisig A true message of peace September 25, 2007 F. Mairiaux (Grande Bretagne) 1 out of 6 found this review helpful According to the film maker himself (see interview on DVD), every main event in the film is based on historical facts. I think this film shows a fantastic example that peace amongst humans can be achieved, even in the most unlikely circumstances - a message that is pretty well welcome in our world of today. Sublime January 20, 2008 Alma (Italy) 1 out of 6 found this review helpful I am astounded at some of the negative reviews this film got, I think it is an excellent movie, and a very moving story of what could happen should enemies stop shooting for a moment and start seeing each other as fellow human beings. I don't think there's any sentimentality in that. Given the human race is what it is, the message of this film, so beautifully conveyed, will remain valid till the end of time. True story June 18, 2008 loli_lola 0 out of 2 found this review helpful Wonderful story, moving and human. br / br /For those who remain sceptical about the truth of these events, do some researches, read the books of Maurice Genevoix (who fought in this war and took part in these fraternizations). I can tell you (but it is your choice to believe it or not) that my great-grand father who fought in this war, told his family when he came back (because he indeed survived) about these fraternizations during 1914 X-mas Eve. And I am sure that some french, english, german or belgian families still have in their private letters some proofs of that. Joyeux Noel January 5, 2009 E. M. Swiers 0 out of 1 found this review helpful The DVD arrived new - still in the packaging - excellent condition. It also arrived very quickly. Showing reviews 1-5 of 24 1 2 3 4 5 Next »

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