Merry Christmas
by Christian Carion
France - 2005 - 115 min
May 9 | 7:00 p.m
As part of the celebrations of the Centennial of American involvement into World War I, the Cultural Services of the French Embassy present the screening of the 2005 film Merry Christmas by Christian Carion.
This film is inspired by a true story that took place during WWI, on Christmas Eve 1914, at many places along the front lines.
When the war broke out during the summer of 1914, millions of men were taken by surprise and caught up in the ensuing maelstrom. And then Christmas arrived, with its snow and its stream of gifts from back home and from the army brass. But the surprise wasn’t to be found in the generous parcels that littered the trenches.
On this particular evening, a major event was to have a lasting effect on the destiny of four characters: a Scottish minister, a French lieutenant, a German tenor, and a Danish soprano. These stars of the era find themselves at the heart of an unprecedented fraternizing between soldiers from the German, French and British trenches. All will put down their guns and leave their trenches behind as they go to meet the enemy, shake his hand and exchange cigarettes or chocolates, and wish him Merry Christmas.
Free admission; online registration required
http://frenchculture.org/film-tv-and-new-media/events/merry-christmas
This event is part of the European Month of Culture (EUMC). Now in its fifth year, EUMC is a month-long festival of innovative and creative events for the American public highlighting the diverse cultures of all 28 European Union Member countries. Enjoy film, dance, music, theatre, exhibits, language classes, workshops and more in great venues throughout Washington DC. Most events are free! To see all EUMC events, click here.
