Christmas Films for the Lonely

If you are feeling a bit under the weather or lonely this Christmas (or maybe a LOT), I've picked 4 films that are perfect for your Christmas watching: 

• "The Little Drummer Boy" (1968 - Cartoon TV Movie, Jose Ferrer, Greer Garson - narrator)

• "The Gift of Love" (1978 - Marie Osmond. Timothy Bottoms, James Woods, June Lockhart)

• "Lilies of the Field" (1963 - Sidney Poitier, Lillia Skala - Oscar winning role)

• "The Muppet Christmas Carol" (1992 - Michael Caine, Kermit the Frog)

"The Little Drummer Boy" is a cartoon version of the traditional Christmas carol, narrated by the wonderful Greer Garson. It's 30 minutes long and shows us that God is most pleased when we give the gift of "ourselves", even if we are so poor we don't have anything to give except a little drum to play on. 

"The Gift of Love " is a re-telling of the classic 'O Henry' short story. It's a sappy and sentimental TV movie and the 18 year old Marie Osmond is a cringingly bad actress, but even that lends to it's delight. And believe me, the stellar supporting cast, including a very young James Woods, as well as Timothy Bottoms, David Wayne, Donald Moffat, June Lockhart etc, more than makes up for anything Marie is lacking. It's theme is that we find our greatest happiness when sacrificing  someTHING we love for someONE we love. It's also got humor, tension and a wonderful song created especially for this film and sung with Marie's crisp, lovely voice. 

"Lilies of the Fields " actually won several Oscars it's such a good movie. Although this film doesn't revolve around Christmas, it is the perfect "Blessings in Disguise" and "God Works in Mysterious Ways" story. A group of refugee, German/Austrian nuns who live in New Mexico pray to get help to build a chapel. That "help" comes  in the form of  a black, baptist, itinerant carpenter (played fantastically by Sidney Poitier). And the battle of wills is on between the "Mother" and "Homer". Funny, witty and so true to life and human nature. 

"The Muppet Christmas Carol"  (1992 - Michael Caine, Kermit the Frog, Rizzo the Rat) is the absolute best version of Charles Dicken's classic story. (Yeah. I know that sounds weird) Told with wit, humor and tons of heart, not to mention an entire load of wonderful songs by Paul Williams. I cannot praise this film more highly. 

Each of these films have not really gotten the attention they deserve, but they are so FULL, especially when it comes to needing H-O-P-E.

What's wonderful about each of these movies is that they leave you with more. More meaning, more understanding and more heart, as you begin to understand that God has a plan for you, even if it's not exactly what you had in mind. A plan that will take you beyond Christmas  and beyond what you could have figured for yourself. 

Not to mention, each film includes a wonderful song (or songs) that you will be singing long after the New Year.

It's been my Christmas Eve Film Tradition for many years to include watching these films; whether I've been alone or with friends and family. But I truly think I get more out of these films during the holidays that I have had difficulties. I've checked and each is available on iTunes right now. 

If you're like me, you may need more than Frosty & Rudolph. And "It's a Wonderful Life" (although a very good film) can be hard to watch if you don't actually have an entire town's worth of friends. And "Who-ville" is good for a visit, but I wouldn't want to live there any longer than 30 minutes each year.

 Right now these movies recommendations are ALL that I have to give to you and so I offer them with with my "best" and prayers that your loneliness, or alone-ness, will not last much past Christmas.

Merry Christmas to everyone reading this. Know that even if we are alone, we are alone ... together. And on a lighter note, these are also very good films just on an entertainment, story telling level. So allow yourself to be swept into the warmth they bring as they help you go "deeper" into what truly matters and lift you just a bit higher than you were.

Jesus loves you and is right where you are. Now. That is my Good News for you and I am deeply grateful it also happens to be ... the Truth.

Merry Christmas!

Love Laura-Lee

P.S. Just watched "The Muppet Christmas Carol" I purchased from iTunes and they had actually removed an entire 5 minute song which is at the crux of "why" Scrooge is so bitter. This is the third time I've purchased a film from iTunes to discover large portions missing. Ripping people off, and at Christmas.  SHAME on you iTunes! 

P.P.S. Reminder, if you feel like some good Christmas music, don't forget to click on the "Christmas Playlist" I've put on my main blog page. Something for everyone and created to lift you higher. L-L

Flukt: Film Review

For those of you who don’t know the word in the title, let me assure you that I am not swearing at you. It’s actually the name of a movie.
Let me tell you a little story (because I wouldn’t be me unless I told a “little story” in every situation).

Last weekend was a long one for Canada. We celebrated Queen Victoria’s birthday by taking Monday off. (I don’t know why we celebrate her birthday, but a holiday is a holiday)
I had just finished a mostly crappy week, was feeling like I was coming down with a cold and was still grieving Mom’s death pretty heavily. I decided it would help to order a Dominos Pizza and watch a few good movies. I felt the need to escape for a few hours. I went to iTunes to see what I could rent. Since I haven’t been to a movie theatre in about 8 years, I’m not very “up” on current movies, so I went to the “Top Movies” page at iTunes to get some ideas. I downloaded a couple films I had heard of and then I saw the listing for movie called, “Escape” and since that’s exactly what I was looking for, an escape, I read the blurb about it. It said something like this:

“In 1363 Norway, after the Black Death has killed half the population, lawlessness runs rampant among the country, but there are still a few people who go wandering to find a new life. A teen age girl watches while her family is killed by a ruthless gang, before they take her captive. Facing a “fate worse than death” she makes her escape. But the gang won’t let her go that easy and the hunt is on.”

Sounds pretty cool, eh? Or at least, a bit of mindless escapism for a couple hours.



When the film began there was that Production Company logo thingey.  Disney has it’s Castle, Spielberg has that kid fishing while sitting on the moon and Pixar has a bouncing desk lamp. This particular film started with a polar bear. I’m a Canadian, so the polar bear was fine with me.
Then the film started with writing all over the screen. But whatever language it was, it certainly wasn’t English. Then the subtitles began and my hopes dropped. “Oh no. A Norwegian subtitled film! What did I get myself into? How do I get my $4 back?”
I began to look around for a crayon and a piece of loose leaf paper in order to write iTunes a nasty letter, but I never got to it. Because within the next 120 seconds (just 2 short minutes) I was hooked. Thoroughly.

I started watching TV and movies when I was still in diapers. So when I say “I’ve forgotten more movies than you’ll ever watch”, it is not an exaggeration. Rarely is there a film I watch that I am not dissecting and analysing. But every once in a while a film is done so well that I can simply give myself over to the story. “Flukt” is such a film.

The iTunes blurb gives a pretty accurate idea about the plot, but it’s the believability that makes this film worth watching. And it is far from mindless. I have watched “Flukt” 6 times and am still finding layers to it.
Also good about it, is that it’s audience can be found in every demographic. I can’t think of an age group or gender that will not find something in the movie for themselves. And there is not one scene in it that is a waste. Nothing that doesn’t need to be there. Each scene communicates something (even though you may not know it) and they all blend seamlessly into flawless story.
The director, Roar Uthaug (great name, right?), knows how to craft a film. How to build suspense. How to balance moments of intense action with moments of quiet tenderness. The actors competently portray their characters individually, yet work together selflessly to create relationships and group dynamics that are very recognizable to us in the here and now. And in doing so, we are transported to  another place and time that none of us have ever been. Isn’t that what good story telling should attain to? Whether it’s a book or a film or the past, when a travelling minstrel’s supper and bed for the night depended on how good a tale he told. A story should enlarge your perspective and add to your experience and ultimately change you in some way.

From the teenage heroine, who discovers she’s capable of much more than she ever imagined, to her younger side-kick who has lived an abused life and struggling with loyalties and choices, to the leader of the gang, a harsh, brutal woman both in control and not. Any way you approach this movie it is about women realizing their power and Roar Uthaug is smart enough to let his female leads run with that.

Don’t get me wrong though, this is not a film where a bunch of Vikings sit around and discuss their feelings or get in touch with their feminine side (my apologies to Ingmar Bergman). At it’s center is a nightmarish chase that is reminiscent of “The Terminator”. Roar Uthaug knows how to create suspense and tension. He grabs your attention at the beginning and won’t let it go until the credits roll.

I was about to tell you to take note of the lead actress, Ingrid Bolso Berdal, but there is no need to. There is no way you CAN'T take note of her. Her character is the foundation of this film and she carries it effortlessly. She is definitely a talent to keep your eyes on. After watching “Flukt” I was so impressed that I spent the remainder of the weekend exploring Norwegian cinema by watching 6 more films from Norway. All of them very different and extremely impressive. Four of those films also had Ingrid Bolso Berdal in them, but she is such a chameleon that I watched a movie for 10 minutes before I even recognized her. And since she just signed to do to the “Hercules” movie with Dwayne (the Rock) Johnson, I predict she is about to become known to the American public in a huge way.

I think I’ve raved and blabbed on about this movie long enough. But keep in mind what a rare thing it is to find a movie so enthralling. For all the movies that are bad, boring or just give you some cheap thrills, “Flukt” redeems them. Watching movies like this makes me grateful for the invention of film.

So as the American long weekend arrives, do yourself a favour and watch “Flukt”. And no matter where you find it or whether you buy it or rent it, make sure you do NOT get interrupted the first time you watch it. There is a very good reason that “Flukt” was found on the “Top Movies” page. It is the little Norwegian film that could. People continue to watch it, are impressed and recommend it to people they know. I just can’t stand the idea of you not knowing too. So consider this my “random act of kindness” for the week.

NOTE: “Flukt” is also know as “Escape” in English. At iTunes, you have to search for “Escape” to find it.

There is some scenes of graphic violence, but it is actually mild in comparison to what is seen on regular network television. However, younger children would probably find several scenes disturbing so “Parental Guidance is Suggested” (which usually applies to every situation anyway).

~ Laura-Lee

"Flukt" (aka. "Escape") IMDB webpage

UPDATE❗

I LOVE it! My favorite action film dubbed into SPANISH from it's original NORWEGIAN and not an English subtitle anywhere. It  is currently at YouTube in it's entirety.

If this version appeals to you and you don't  need English (I don't because I've seen it so many times,) GO FOR IT! 

However, if you haven't seen it yet and speak ENGLISH, view the English SUBTITLED version so you don't mess up your first time viewing this wonderful movie. LLR

LINK Flukt Spanish Dubbed Version Free at YouTube