文章基本信息

标题：Films: FEST OF ENEMIES
作者：MARK ADAMS at the movies
期刊名称：Sunday Mirror
印刷版ISSN：0956-8077
出版年度：2005
卷号：Dec 11, 2005
出版社：Mirror Group Newspapers Ltd.

Films: FEST OF ENEMIES

MARK ADAMS at the movies

MERRY CHRISTMAS (12A) THE STARS Diane Kruger, Guillaume Canet, Daniel Bruhl, Benno Furmann, Alex Ferns.

THE STORY The moving tale of the famous World War I ceasefire at Christmas 1914, when Scottish, French and German troops laid down their weapons, sang carols and played a game of football in No Man's Land. Partially subtitled.

WHAT'S GOOD? A strong European story is told in multiple languages without losing dramatic impact.

Writer-director Christian Carion juggles humour with wartime hardship as stories from three different armies collide on one fateful night. An old-fashioned code of honour allows the enemies to come together for a brief time to share champagne and memories before the realities of war take over again. A moving conclusion leaves you feeling compassion for all sides.

Beautifully shot and elegantly staged, this is a powerful and unusual Christmas movie.

WHAT'S BAD? The script veers into sentimentality and the dialogue tries too hard to be profound.

It has the grittiness of recent World War I film A Very Long Engagement but lacks quirkiness, relying instead on conventional storytelling.

HOW LONG IS IT? A moving 118 mins.

FINAL VERDICT: Powerful, tearful and timely festive tale of the horrors of war.

-Opens Friday, December 16