Christmas, Christmases

Marie Desmeuzes

There is Christmas, the idyllic image of the Christian family feast. And then there are the Christmases for most of us, which we sometimes attend dragging our feet because of family tensions or dissent, divorces and remarriages, because the family’s not always so easy, and religion even less so. The film takes us to the home of four families of today, which are either ‘recompositions’, or of mixed religions. At Gérard’s and Catherine’s, one is catholic, the other is not. At Jacqueline’s and Gaby’s, who were born Christians, but who spend Christmas with their Muslim soul family. At Isabelle’s and Georges’, who are devout Buddhists. And finally, at Lydia’s and Michel’s, who have rediscovered the Jewish tradition. If Christmas is still celebrated by the vast majority of persons, it is because this day symbolizes what remains precious to us all:  childhood, solidarity, dreams, sharing, generosity. These are variations on a theme, between steaming kitchens and presents, among traditions, mixed races and change.