Christmas Movie Review:


Synopsis:

Kiri, the eldest son in the family, returns home for Christmas to spend some time with his family which is made up of two crazy sisters, their kids, a gay brother with an eating disorder, and the quietly forlorn centre of the unit: their mother.
The story takes place over five days, culminating in Christmas day.

Billed as a black comedy, “Christmas” could be one of the most depressing and morbid movies ever made. It makes Mike Leigh look like Mel Brookes in comparison.

To give a rough plot outline, we see snapshots of each member of the family, mainly in states of despair, throughout each day as their lives become more and more grim. Then, for five minutes you think things are looking up, only for events to take the inevitable turn for the worst yet again.

The claustrophobic bathroom setting is the family’s haven for contemplation, sobbing and being physically ill. This movie is drenched in illness to the point where it makes the viewer feel nauseous. The squalid state of their home obviously mirrors their inner turmoil, but it is also dull and tired, and might make you feel the same.

It could be a translation issue, but the supposedly light moments didn’t even raise a smile, and it’s nothing personal toward the fine people of New Zealand, but the characters’ incessant use of the word ‘mate’ is irksome, not because of the mannerism, but because it is usually delivered by a shrieking harpie sister.
The problem stems partly from the yawn inducing lack of motion. Static scenes can work well, but here they are over-used, and leave the film with a flat finish. The characters are less - than like-able, and although obviously striving for gritty and authentic, it seems unrealistic that any family could be filled with such voluminous amounts of illness and malcontent.

Highlights were in a scene where granddad purchases a car, and brags proudly, “A bin bag jumps out when you have an accident”, Kiri’s “I Love Cops” tee – shirt and a scene where the young ‘uns nick a beer from their old pop and get tizzy in the woods.

Low points include; mostly everything else, but especially a shower scene which a lot of people, particularly women, might find pretty upsetting, and a very realistic feline getting buried.
Maybe the point of this film has been missed here. If it is meant to make you feel utter despair, then lead you to re-evaluate your own life and define yourself as lucky, then it’s a raging success.

Unfortunately, after all the sickness and screaming, it’s more likely to give you some nasty side - effects: Boredom and annoyance.

Terresa Gaffney

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