The Twelve Days of Christmas Movies 2017: Day Three

Joulutarina (2007)

Directed by Juha Wuolijoki. Starring Hannu-Pekka Björkman, Otto Gustavsson, Jonas Rinne, Kari Väänänen, Mikko Kouki, Laura Birn, and Matti Ristinen.

After Nicholas finds himself orphaned the residents of his village vow to take care of him, but another mouth to feed is expensive so each family home him for a year, before he moves on to the next. As a thank you every Christmas Eve Nicholas leaves handmade gifts on the doorstep of all the families.

Following a bad harvest, the villagers don’t know who can afford to take care of Nicholas next. Iisakki, a carpenter who lives outside the village, agrees to house Nicholas, and although he initially treats him badly, Iisakki eventually looks upon Nicolas as a son. Later leaving him his work shop and wealth.

As the years go by Nicholas spends more and more time making toys for all the children of the ever-growing village, and surrounding villages, till he soon ventures out only twice a year. Once to collect supplies and a list of all the children, and once to deliver his gifts.

Joulutarina isn’t a film which makes it on to too many Christmas Watchlists, this Finnish take on the Santa Claus myth creates a period piece free of the usual Christmas movie trappings (although Nickolas does get a red suit) making this Santa story seem quite feasible.

In English speaking countries Joulutarina is renamed Christmas Story, and dubbed in to English as apposed to subtitled with Finnish dialogue, and while the majority of the dub cast are unknowns Iisakki is voiced by Coen Brothers regular John Turturo.

Have you seen Joulutarina/Christmas Story? Had you even heard of it before now? And what obscure movies make your Christmas watchlist? Let us know in the comments below.