Project Detail

Joyeux Noel (Merry Christmas)

Synopsis

When war breaks out in the lull of summer 1914, it surprises and pulls millions of men in its wake.

Christmas arrives, with its snow and multitude of family and army presents. But the surprise won't come from inside the generous parcels which lie in the French, Scottish and German trenches.

That night, a momentous event will turn the destinies of four characters: an Anglican priest, a French lieutenant, an exceptional tenor and the one he loves, a wonderful soprano and singing partner. During this Christmas Eve, the unthinkable will happen: rifles will be left at the bottom of the trenches as the soldiers go to see those opposite, shake their hands, exchange a cigarette and a piece of chocolate, and wish them 'Merry Christmas'.

Details

Year
2006
Type of project
Features
Running time
116 mins
Format
35mm
Director
Christian Carion
Producer
Philippe Boeffard, Bertrand Faivre, Kate Ogborn, Soledad Gatti-Pascual, Patrick Quinet, Andrei Boncea, Benjamin Herrmann, Christopher Borgmann
Co-Producer
Philippe Boeffard, Bertrand Faivre, Kate Ogborn, Soledad Gatti-Pascual, Patrick Quinet, Andrei Boncea, Benjamin Herrmann, Christopher Borgmann
Editor
Andrea Sedlackova
Screenwriter
Christian Carion
Director of Photography
Walther van den Ende
Sound
Pierre Mertens, Thomas Desjonqueres
Composer
Philippe Rombi
Principal cast
Diane Kruger, Benno Furmann, Nikolaus Guillaume Canet, Gary Lewis, Dany Boon, Daniel Bruhl

Categories

Production Status

Production Company

Nord-Ouest Productions

41 rue de la Tour d'Auvergne
75009 Paris, France

T +33 1 5320 4720

The Bureau (UK), Artemis (BE), MediaPro (ROM), Senator (DE)

Sales Company

Films Distribution

Page updates

This page was last updated on 12th May 2025. Please let us know if we need to make any amendments or request edit access by clicking below.

See also

You may also be interested in other relevant projects in the database.

Man holding a skull looking tortured Elsinore

Director: Simon Stone

Year: 2026

The powerful, deeply moving and inspiring true story of the actor Ian Charleson who faced incredible odds while preparing to give the performance of his life in Hamlet. Official Selection Telluride Film Festival 2026 Official Selection BFI London Film Festival 2026

A band member on stage Amped

Director: Jake Goddard

Year: 2026

A dysfunctional and toxic rock band is barely being held together by their stressed-out manager. With one last concert to impress a record label and get signed, the band's future hangs in the balance as tensions threaten to tear them apart.

Mother Water Mother Water

Director: Julius Amedume

Year: 2028

After the horrific death of their child, a grieving architect and her doctor husband travel to Africa on a fake humanitarian trip. But when their helicopter crashes, they seek refuge in a remote African fishing village, where strange things begin to happen. Mysterious offerings appear at their door, the villagers worship an ancient water deity known as Mami Wata, and over the course of the next few days, they are forced to confront their deepest desires and what they're willing to sacrifice to obtain them.