The holiday season is rapidly approaching, and with it a familiar scenario— you’re getting the house ready for the holidays, baking cookies, listening to music, and someone inevitably says, “Let’s put on a movie!”
Families have their favorite holiday film that they watch at this time of year, whether it be a sappy Hallmark, It’s A Wonderful Life, the Harry Potter movies, or even Die Hard…
A comforting category of movies that seems to contain films of every genre imaginable, the topic of Christmas movies somehow also tends to spark debate. The classic question: “Is _____ really a Christmas movie?” (Looking at you, Die Hard).
So now we begin to wonder, what makes a holiday movie? Is it the abundance of snow? The faint echo of jingle bells in the background? The life lesson at the end? Or is it a combination of different things?
So I decided to take the playfully ambiguous nature of the holiday movie into stride and research some more films that raise the same question.
This month I picked three almost-Christmas films to focus on with varying levels of holiday themes and from all over the world: Three Wishes for Cinderella (1973), Christmas in August (1998), and Tangerine (2015).
Three Wishes for Cinderella (1973) – directed by Václav Vorlíček (Czechoslovakia)
Starring: Libuše Šafránková, Pavel Trávníček
Plot: Popelka, a clever and independent young girl, is gifted three magical acorns that each grant her a single wish. Her wishes take her on a set of adventures through a snowy fairytale landscape.
This Czechoslovakian rendition of the fairytale Cinderella is a classic in many Eastern European homes around the holiday season.
My rating: ★★★
My review: I can see why this film is a household favorite. With its lighthearted and heartwarming plotline, refreshingly amusing script, and wonderful array of costumes, it’s the perfect winter fairytale.
Though the film never explicitly mentions Christmas or holiday themes, the wintry, whimsical atmosphere makes it the perfect movie to watch with family on a snowy holiday.
One of the main focal points for me was how differently Popelka is portrayed in relation to many other versions of Cinderella that I have seen. In this adaptation, Popelka is feisty and takes initiative in unfair situations, a welcome change from the traditional Cinderella— a woebegone maid, helplessly passive.
I also appreciated the integration of Eastern European culture and folklore, which provided a unique and refreshing spin on a story that is constantly redone and can become repetitive.
Though it’s humorous and fantastical (and features a lot of men in tights), I don’t think the lighthearted nature of this film takes away from the overall quality.
This film’s style and subject matter may not be for everyone, but if you’re looking for a new holiday movie to add to the family rotation, this very well may be a strong contender.
Where to watch: Criterion Collection.
Christmas in August (1998) – directed by Hur Jin-Ho (South Korea)
Starring: Han Suk-kyu, Shim Eun-ha
Plot: A photographer, Jung-won, and a young traffic cop, Da-rim, start an unlikely romance. What Da-rim doesn’t know is that Jung-won is terminally ill and is quietly entering the last months of his life.
My rating: ★★★★
My review: A beautifully shot film with a poignant storyline and phenomenal acting. I felt as if I was watching someone else’s life rather than a cast of actors— the acting in this film is authentic and incredibly skillful.
Includes some truly breathtaking shots that film viewers fond of curated aesthetics will enjoy. Jin-Ho does a wonderful job pairing visuals to an already thoughtful and nuanced script— his use of color, sound, and overall design is really clever.
For example, I enjoyed how the mood and subject of the scenes seemed to match up with the seasons shown in the film.
While the film itself does not feature Christmas at all, the rapid shift from summer, to autumn, to winter does the dual job of commenting on Jung-won’s waning health and how he is in the “winter of his life”, so to speak, and providing a more tangible visual representation of the film’s plot progression.
Not only does the film explore Jung-won’s relationships with his loved ones and relatives in the face of his illness, it also explores his fluctuating sense of self, and his quiet progression through every stage of grief as he processes the fact that the world must move on without him. Though subtle, these details really seal the deal.
If you enjoy films that center around profound topics and soft visuals, or if you want to add a more bittersweet tone to your annual Christmas marathon, I would recommend watching Christmas in August.
Where to watch: Prime Video.
Tangerine (2015) – directed by Sean Baker (USA)
Starring: Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Mya Taylor
Plot: A feature film completely shot on three iPhone 5s, Sean Baker’s Tangerine is hilarious, raw, and colorful.
Set in Los Angeles on Christmas Eve, Sin-Dee and her best friend Alexandra embark on a vibrant and whirlwind expedition through LA as Sin-Dee seeks revenge after finding out her pimp boyfriend has been unfaithful during her 28-day prison stay.
My rating: ★★★★
My review: If you’ve seen The Florida Project or Red Rocket, you’ll be familiar with Sean Baker’s distinctive “slice-of-life” style in which he portrays outcasts and characters from marginalized groups, often casting actors who belong to these communities themselves.
Tangerine is no different— Baker explores the world of Black, trans sex workers in a compassionate and humane setting, putting a more multifaceted and truly realistic lens on a subject that isn’t often brought to light.
Out of the three movies I have reviewed in this issue, Tangerine is the only one to actually reference Christmas. But while the film is set on Christmas Eve, the atmosphere of the Hollywood kaleidoscope is not one of snowy trees and sleigh bells.
The time frame that Baker selected is an interesting choice. It emphasizes the conflicts between characters and establishes connection, but doesn’t feel like it’s backed by the desire to promote a worn out Christmas moral of friendship and kindness.
On top of being funny, quick-witted, and very 2015, to me, Tangerine at its core is a reflection of a part of girlhood and the female experience that is often overlooked— it is not a story about trans women, it is a story about women who are trans.
What started as an up-tempo, dreamily electric crusade turned into a layered exploration of friendship in the face of adversity and the complicated yet beautiful experience of queer women.
If you are a fan of queer, experimental, and realist cinema, this movie is for you. Baker’s simple yet effective editing techniques allow for complete immersion in the story and it is this simplicity that impressed me the most. Definitely a movie to add to the watchlist if you haven’t already.
Where to watch: Free on Kanopy.
**Please check trigger warnings for Christmas in August and Tangerine before watching.
To contact this writer, email Muse Newspaper at musebsa@bsfa.org.
Featured images curtesy of IMDB (Three Wishes for Cinderella), Hancinema (Christmas in August), and IMDB (Tangerine).
