It’s never been so easy to find something to watch over the Christmas period. TV, streaming, cinema or just your own home movies (digitally remastered).
Instead of another year watching the films you’ve always watched so often you know the script by heart, we have a couple of recommendations for you.
From Finland: Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale
Richard Hall
Oh, the Christmas film. Once, it was so easy. Everyone settled down on Christmas night to watch The Guns of Navarone or Mary Poppins or whatever it was – and if you didn’t like it, there would be something else on the other side. Morecambe and Wise or Tommy Cooper would be strutting their stuff to general amusement too. There was always something for the family to look forward to.
Now, it’s a nightmare. Streaming services have captured all the best options, so there’s only one thing to do – go off piste for something completely different.
The perfect Christmas film should combine elements of the traditional story along with enough plot twists to keep the family interested. Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale. You don’t know you want to see this 2010 Finnish black comedy drama about a small boy who discovers the real Santa Claus is really a monster who’s been imprisoned in a mountain to keep the community safe, but trust me – you do.
Alternative origin story: Klaus
Robert Postings
Seen Elf more times than you can count? Getting tired of Gremlins and Home Alone rewatches? If you’re looking for a new Christmas classic, you can’t go wrong with Klaus.
Oscar nominated and BAFTA winning, Klaus is an alternative origin story for Christmas. It is set in 19th century Europe where Jesper, the good-for-nothing son of the postmaster general, is sent by his father to the frozen northern island town of Smeerenburg to establish a post office. This last desperate effort by his father is meant to reform Jesper from his privileged self-centred ways.
There, he must try and succeed in setting up the post office when the only potential letter-writers are two warring family clans. During his often-deceptive attempts at completing this task, he meets a strange man called Klaus.
Klaus succeeds thanks to its beautiful traditional animated style, well written story, and its great balance of laughs with serious moments. What really sets it apart is just how heartfelt a story Klaus is.
Perfect for children and adults alike, Klaus is certainly worth a watch at Christmas time. Who knows, maybe you’ll have found your next classic Christmas movie you watch again and again.
Let’s not forget the classics
Gemma Gould
Christmas films have always held a special place in my heart, marking the start of the festive season. The countdown to Christmas for me began when Annie appeared on TV – not technically a Christmas film, but it always evoked memories of Christmas past. Over the years, my favourites have stayed the same. A Muppet’s Christmas Carol has a unique charm, though my other half has decided that after 20 years of watching it, it’s time for a break. Still, it remains a beloved classic full of warmth, humour and the Muppets’ twist on Dickens’ tale.
As a child, Santa Claus: The Movie was my all-time favourite, with Dudley Moore’s performance as Patch, the elf, leaving a lasting impression. The magic, wonder and festive spirit of the film captivated me.
And then there’s the age-old debate: is Die Hard a Christmas film? For the sake of goodwill and peace amongst men I won’t wade into that debate!
For me, Christmas films are about tradition, nostalgia, and the joy of returning to familiar favourites year after year.
