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5 classic French Christmas movies

If you're getting in the mood for a good Christmas film but can't face another viewing of Elf, Home Alone or Love Actually, here are some suggestions for classic French Christmas films, compiled by cinema club Lost in Frenchlation.

5 classic French Christmas movies
Photo by Nikolay DOYCHINOV / AFP

If you’re in the mood to try something new, here are some French Christmas classics just waiting to be discovered – and one of them might become your new favourite holiday movie (although a quick note that French Christmas films are often a little darker than their saccharine US counterparts). 

Joyeux Noel (2005)

Joyeux Noel, directed by Christian Carion, is a film about the famous unofficial truce that took place in the First World War trenches on Christmas Eve of 1914.

French, German, and British soldiers cease hostilities to celebrate the holiday together in no man’s land. The film highlights the universal desire for peace and humanity amidst the chaos of war. This film was nominated for an Academy Award in 2005.

Le Père Noël est une ordure (Santa Claus is a stinker) – 1982

A hilarious and dark French comedy that follows the absurd and chaotic events at a helpline for troubled individuals on Christmas Eve.

With its irreverent humour and memorable characters, this film is recommended for those seeking a hilarious and unconventional take on the holiday season. It’s currently available on Netflix. 

La Bûche (Seasons Beatings) – 1999

A heartwarming French film filled with humour and charm. Set during a dysfunctional family’s Christmas gathering, it follows the quirky dynamics, unexpected revelations, and ultimately, the power of love and forgiveness.

A delightful holiday movie perfect for cosy nights with friends, offering laughter and warmth.

Un conte de Noël (A Christmas Tale) – 2008

A captivating French film that brings family dynamics, estrangement, and emotional depth during the holiday season. With stellar performances and a nuanced script, it explores the complexities of relationships, forgiveness, and the enduring spirit of Christmas.

A must-watch for cinephiles and holiday-goers alike.

Les Bronzés font du Ski – 1979

A classic French comedy – a sequel to Les Bronzés – this follows a group of friends on a ski vacation.

With its hilarious antics and quirky characters, it’s a great choice for those in search of a lighthearted, laughter-inducing film set in a snowy winter wonderland. Perfect for a fun, holiday-inspired watch.

If you are interested in seeing Les Bronzés font du Ski, look no further than Lost in Frenchlation’s event on December 28th. At Luminor Hôtel de Ville, Lost in Frenchlation will be hosting a live stand up comedy show followed by a showing of the film, subtitled in English. Full details here.

By Henry Keohan

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FRANCE EXPLAINED

Why are berets so synonymous with France?

If you walk by a tourist shop in Paris, the chances are very high that they will have a full assortment of berets to choose from. But why is this fashion choice even associated with France?

Why are berets so synonymous with France?

If you were to believe the TV shows and movies about France’s capital, everyone in the city owns a beret, drives a moped, smokes cigarettes, and carries baguettes under their armpits.

While some of these stereotypes might be more true than others (hint: baguette transportation), the anglophone world has been convinced that berets never go out of style.

READ MORE: Baguettiquette: Weird things the French do with bread

These days, a person walking around Paris in a beret is just as likely – if not more likely – to be a tourist than a French person.

That being said, the English-speaking world does have good reason to associate berets with the French.

The word beret is thought to be of Gallic (pre-French) origins, dating all the way back to the Romans, though similar styles of headgear have been found in archeological sites across the ancient world.

Officially, beret begins to appear in the French dictionary around the 15th century, and by the 19th century the waterproof headgear had become popular.

Napoleon associated them with the Basque country and the Pyrenees, though different versions of berets were worn across the French countryside, including the people who would go on to be known as ‘onion johnnies’ in Brittany.

French Onion Johnnies

Brits have a specific reason to associate the French with berets, according to writer Margo Lestz with the Curious Rambler blog.

From the mid-1800s to mid-1900s, it was common for Brits to see French men in berets, riding bicycles and carrying onions.

“These beret-wearing, onion-laden cyclists arrived in the UK every summer to peddle their wares. They came from the area around Roscoff, Brittany in western France. This area was (and still is) known for its special pink onions. They were sweet, had a long storage life – and the British loved them.

“As it happened, many of these onion-sellers were called Yann, a common Breton name which is the equivalent of Jean in French and John in English. The British soon took to calling them “Onion Johnnies”. The Johnnies didn’t mind and happily adopted their new English nickname.

“They would go door to door from July through December across the UK, then would return to Brittany. Since the Onion Johnnies were the only contact that many Brits had with a Frenchman, they naturally assumed that all Frenchmen wore berets,” Lestz wrote.

READ MORE: Why we think the French all wear berets and carry onions

Military gear to street fashion and revolutions

Another reason we associate the French with berets has to do with official military uniforms. Beginning in the 1880s and continuing into World War I, France’s Chasseurs Alpins, infantry soldiers the Alps, began to wear berets as part of their uniform. 

Aloïs Guinut, the author of the book ‘Dress like a Parisian’ told 20 Minutes that “Shepherds wore them first, then soldiers, schoolchildren, and then golfers, mountaineers, and even cyclists adopted it.”

Guinut said that once the headwear became popular with athletes, it started to became stylish in general.

“Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel was one of the first to use it as a fashion accessory in the 1930s,” Guinot explained, noting that around that time French cinema was growing in popularity, and more French actresses were sporting berets, including the leading lady Michele Morgan in the film ‘Le Quai des Brumes’.

READ MORE: Where does the ‘romantic, sexy French’ stereotype come from?

By the 1940s, berets were so connected to French identity that they became an essential accessory for the resistance during World War II.

Afterwards, other resistance movements began to incorporate berets too, including the revolutionary Che Guevara.

What about now?

Several military uniforms across the world include berets, including parts of the French military like paratroopers and the French foreign legion.

As for Parisians, “there are [some] who do wear berets. I see them regularly. But it’s true that tourists love wearing berets when they visit Paris, so it is a bit of a tourist accessory,” Guinut said.

It continues to be part of the ‘Parisienne’ appearance as luxury fashion companies use it in their yearly collections – like Dior in 2017.

Meanwhile, tourist shops play up the beret, while pop culture continues to give us images of the beret-wearing Frenchwoman – most recently, Emily in Paris, with the main character frequently accesorising with a bright red beret.

Let us know what you think about berets in the comments below. Do you consider them stylish?

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