Tears Under the Mistletoe: 5 Holiday Movies to Tug at Your Heartstrings
A true story of a war truce, a drama about a serious illness, and a comedy about a deceased father.
Every year, many viewers re-watch old holiday movies. Or look for new ones that do not differ much in plot from their predecessors.
But we decided to dilute the atmosphere of kindness and magic and collect the most unusual movies that take place during the winter holidays.
Do you want to worry and cry along with the characters? These five flicks are for you.
1. Jack Frost, 1998
Musician Jack Frost spent so much time on his career that he forgot about his children. He even missed his son's important hockey game, opting for a concert instead. Just as the father decides to spend time with his loved ones, he gets into an accident and dies.
A year later, Jack returns, but in the form of a snowman revived by a magic harmonica. He tries to right the wrongs of the past and help his son, who has fallen into depression.
Jack Frost is dedicated to lost time and opportunities: the main character thought too little of his family and regrets it.
2. A Christmas Tale, 2008
Junon Vuillard and her husband Abel are no longer young, but they still try to get their relatives together every Christmas. But their children have long since grown up, started their own families and do not get along very well.
When they all get together for the holidays, the scandals begin. But now Junon must tell her children that she is terminally ill and needs a bone marrow transplant. They have to figure out which of their relatives can be a donor.
3. Silent Night, 2021
The parents of three children, Nell and Simon, are preparing to host friends for Christmas. At first, everything goes as usual: the guests gossip, the children are moody, but everyone gathers around the same table. But the situation becomes more and more alarming, because none of them will survive until morning.
This movie could easily be classified as a Christmas horror movie. However, in Silent Night the dramatic component is more important.
At first, the authors scatter interesting clues that make you guess what is really happening. And when the truth is revealed, everything turns into a dark story about how to accept the inevitable and how to spend your last hours.
4. Christmas, Again, 2014
Noel sells Christmas trees and prepares for the upcoming holiday with his colleagues. The man recently broke up with his girlfriend and is having a hard time enjoying the holidays.
Especially since the next few days promise nothing but hard work and hustle and bustle. But a chance acquaintance helps Noel to escape from everyday life.
Director Charles Poekel made his only feature-length movie on a shoestring, crowdfunding it. He also sold Christmas trees for a while. The movie reminds us that there is charm in everyday life and simple things – you don't necessarily have to do anything special.
5. Joyeux Noel, 2005
Six different characters find themselves in the same place for different reasons. Among them are soldiers, a chaplain, and two opera singers. The characters will gather at the front on Christmas Eve 1914. At that moment something extraordinary will happen.
The plot of the movie is based on amazing real events. In 1914, soldiers from both sides of the war on the Western Front decided to temporarily lay down their weapons and come together to celebrate Christmas.