Films: FEST OF ENEMIES

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

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