Five minutes – Style – Kommersant

From uplifting classics to rom-coms, Kommersant Style recommends films about the New Year and Christmas.

“Miracle on 34th Street” (1947)

Perhaps this is the oldest Christmas classic. The film is about a Macy’s department store Santa who claims to be real. Having met with a skeptical mother and daughter who do not believe in Santa, the main character tries by all means to convince them of the opposite. And then a series of miracles begins – no magic, just good everyday deeds.

The tape received three Oscar statuettes and was filmed three more times – that’s what the classics of old Hollywood mean.

“Carnival Night” (1956)

Songs from the outstanding musical Eldar Ryazanov (by the way, the director’s debut) are remembered by everyone from childhood. “Carnival Night” is a beautiful holiday film that can be parsed into quotes and reviewed many, many more times. The tape has everything so familiar and beloved to all of us. And, of course, the legendary Soviet artists: Lyudmila Gurchenko, Igor Ilyinsky, Yuri Belov.

“Real Love” (2003)

One of the most romantic Christmas movies that tells the stories of several couples who find each other and confess their love, cheat and break up. An all-star cast thanks to Keira Knightley, Hugh Grant, Liam Nissan, Colin Firth, hit songs, good humor, Christmas London vibes – this 2003 film is already a classic.

“Home Alone” (1990)

Family classic with a beautiful New Year’s entourage. In the center of the plot is a smart boy who is accidentally (although this is still being discussed) left alone at home on Christmas Eve, and the whole large family goes on vacation. This is the perfect time for thieves who have spotted the big McAllister house. But the main character played by Macaulay Culkin is not so simple – this is where all the fun begins.

“Little Women” (2019)

The remake of the famous film is no worse than its original, and perhaps today it is perceived even easier. It has an equally relevant star cast – Timothy Chalashet, Laura Dern, Saoirse Ronan, Meryl Streep. The tape was nominated for six Oscars and eventually won one for best costumes. The plot is not built around Christmas at all – this is a film about growing up, love, forgiveness, independence. But the celebration of the main winter holiday in “Little Women” is surprisingly kind, cozy and colorful.

“It’s a Wonderful Life” (1947)

A classic moral drama about a second chance and a miracle. The main character, an exemplary family man, tries to commit suicide right on Christmas Eve, but a guardian angel intervenes, showing him how people and the world around him would look if he had not been born. This is a beautiful story about how important it is to appreciate what you have. The film It’s a Wonderful Life is included in all the most significant lists of the best films of all time.

“Wizards” (1982)

Alexander Abdulov, Valentin Gaft, Semyon Farada, Valentin Zolotukhin – it was this star cast that made the film so popular. And again the songs familiar to everyone, Russian folklore, a magical institute, although the traditional Soviet research institute familiar to everyone. “Magicians” is a kind fairy tale, the plot of which was far ahead of its time due to the fact that the script was written by the Strugatsky brothers.

“Family Man” (2000)

Nicolas Cage played one of his best roles in this film. By the will of inexplicable magical circumstances, a rich and successful businessman on the eve of Christmas finds himself in another reality, where he has a loving family and a cozy home.

This is a good film about the choice between the mediocre and the real, about missed moments, about losses and love.

“Bad Santa” (2003)

This is not the most obvious Christmas tape for those who are tired of rom-coms and miracles. The protagonist, played by the charming and very organic villain Billy Bob Thornton in this role, earns a living by robberies in the image of Santa, but meets a boy who shows him a completely different life. This is a film about loneliness and love – with good humor and, of course, beautiful surroundings.

“Exchange Vacation” (2006)

Two women who do not know each other, played by Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet, change houses on the eve of Christmas and plunge into a whirlpool of events – of course, romantic ones. What is the quote of the hero Jack Black worth: “If you were a melody, I would take only clean notes.” This is a light film that helps you get distracted and forget about the difficulties and routine.

“A New Christmas Tale” (1988)

Bill Murray plays Scrooge McDuck in the human world – by the way, “Scrooged” is the name of the film in the original. Murray’s protagonist is a callous and smug tycoon. But Christmas night presents him with many surprises of an instructive nature – for example, the hero will meet bright characters, each of which will teach him something new and good.

“Elf” (2003)

A family comedy about an elf named Buddy, who is actually a human. As a baby, he accidentally ended up in Santa’s bag when he visited a children’s shelter. Buddy considers himself an elf: he helps with gifts, makes toys, and knows the Elven Code. But one day he learns a secret about himself and goes in search of his parents in New York, where everything is arranged quite differently. It is worth noting the excellent performance of Will Ferrell in the role of a big child – an elf.

“Bridget Jones’s Diary” (2001)

The film adaptation of the modern version of Pride and Prejudice became so popular that it was continued in the form of a couple more parts. The heroes of Rene Zellwegger, Colin Firth and Hugh Grant have become iconic. And the Christmas dinner scene at Bridget’s parents gave us all the same Mr. Darcy sweater with a red-nosed reindeer that has already become a meme.

Daria Bogomolova