Director: Christian Carion
Writer: Christian Carion
Starring: Diane Kruger, Benno Furmann, Guillaume Canet, Gary Lewis, Danny Boon, Daniel Bruhl
Released: December 15, 2005
Rating: (M)
Runtime: 116 minutes
Websites:
Story: When war breaks out in the lull of summer 1914, it surprises and pulls millions of men in its wake. Nikolaus Sprink, exceptional tenor at the Berlin Opera House, will have to give up his prestigious career and the one he loves: Anna Sorensen, soprano and singing partner... Palmer, Anglican priest, has volunteered to follow Jonathan, his young church aide. They leave Scotland, one as a soldier, the other as a stretcher-bearer... Lieutenant Audebert has had to leave his wife, pregnant and bedridden, to fight the enemy. But the Germans now occupy the small town of Northern France where the young bride has probably given birth. Unless the worst has happened... Having no news is the suffering which haunts Lieutenant Audebert's every night... And Christmas arrives, with its snow and multitude of family and army presents. But the surprise won't come from inside the generous parcels which lie in the French, Scottish and German trenches.That night, a momentous event will turn the destinies of Nikolaus, Anna, Palmer and Audebert around. Because the unthinkable will happen: rifles will be left at the bottom of the trenches to go, candle in hand, to see those opposite, shake their hands, exchange a cigarette and a piece of chocolate, wish them "Merry Christmas"...
Cast:
Diane Kruger Anna Sorensen
Natalie Dessay Anna Sorensen (singing voice)
Benno Furmann Nikolaus Sprink
Guillaume Canet Lieutenant Audebert
Rolando Villazon Nikolaus Sprink (singing voice)
Dany Boon Ponchel
Gary Lewis Palmer
Daniel Bruhl Horstmayer
Alex Ferns Gordon
Steven Robertson Jonathan
Lucas Belvaux Gueusselin
Bernard Le Coq Le general Audebert
Ian Richardson L'eveque/Bishop