Holiday movies are part of what make this time of year so fun. Whether you want something to make you laugh or to make you get in touch with your softer side around the holiday season, there’s something for everyone. To get in the spirit, we’ve put together some foreign holiday films to check out while trying to get in the spirit of this time of year. Maybe kitschy holiday films aren’t your thing, or you’re looking to check out something new. There’s something on this list for any holiday needs you have. From films that will give you that warm, fuzzy feeling inside to a serial killing Santa, there’s something on this list for everyone.
1. Joyeux Noël/Merry Christmas (France)
photo via WordPress
This French film is about the World War I Christmas truce of 1914, and is told through the eyes of French, German, and Scottish soldiers. It was screened out of competition at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival, and was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 78th Academy Awards.
2. Saint/Sint (Dutch)
This movie only got 5.6 out of 10 stars on IMDB, but if you want to have a twist on the classic image of St. Nick, then it’s worth watching. Instead of a jolly, giving man, this Santa is a murderous bishop who kidnaps and murders children every time there is a full moon on December 5th as revenge for his own brutal murder in 1492.
3. Tokyo Godfathers/東京ゴッドファーザーズ (Japan)
photo via impawards
Directed by Satoshi Kon, Tokyo Godfathers follows three homeless people in modern day Tokyo on Christmas Eve. The three main characters – Gin, a middle-aged alcoholic and the only male in the trio, Hana, a former drag queen and trans woman, and Miyuki, a young runaway, find a newborn while looking through trash. With the new born is a note and a bag that has clues to who the parents are. They decicide to set out to find the baby’s parents, and the events that unfold are interesting and surprising.
4. My Uncle Antoine/Mon oncle Antoine (Canada)
photo via Wikipedia
This French Canadian film takes place in Quebec during the 1940’s around Christmas time, where we follow a young boy’s journey to manhood and is forced to face some of life’s most difficult realities. The fimm won eight Genie Awards and a poll of Canadian film writers voted it the Best Canadian Film of all time in 1984.
5. Tuesday, After Christmas/Marti, dupa craciun (Romania)
photo via IMDB
For those of you who want to watch a love film for Christmas (I don’t know why, but I’m here to help not to judge), there’s Tuesday, After Christmas. The film follows a man named Paul who is in love with two women – his wife, Adriana, and his mistress, Raluca. He must choose one by Christmas, and the intimate relationship he shares with both characters cause for this film to be more than a steamy love flick for the holidays, but one that calls for some deep thinking after watching the film.
