Fantasia - Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale

Directed by Jalmari Helander
Written by Jalmari Helander
Cast Onni Tommila, Jorma Tommila, Tommi Korpela, Rauno Juvonen, Johnathan Hutchings
Produced by Petri jokiranta, Knut Skoglund, Francois-Xavier Frantz, Anna Bjork, Agnes B.

I love Christmas time and this film was incredible. Everything was perfect and the story telling was amazing. This film is based on two shorts that the directed had previously done: Rare Exports Inc and Rare Exports: Safety Instructions. The story is about little Pietari, a little boy who lives at the bottom of a mountain that is being worked on by the strange company Subzero. They are looking for something and the little boy knows exactly what it is that they want inside the mountain: the real Santa Claus. We are not talking about the Santa from you local mall, no way, this is the first Santa, the real Santa who is known to eat children and kill any adults who are naughty instead of nice. Pietari knows what is going on but no one will listen or even consider that he is telling the truth. The small town is more worried about the slaughtered reindeer because now they have lost a huge amount of money that was suppose to get them through the year and help them survive in their icy village.

Pietari’s father sets up a wolf trap and captures something much more valuabl:, a skinny, naked old man who resembles dear old Saint Nick. Pietari knows that this man is after the children of the village and needs to fulfill his holiday duties. But again, no one will believe him. This film was incredible; even if you don’t like the holidays or don’t celebrate Christmas, this film will give you the “heeby geebies!” It’s creepy and very well done. The characters are infectious and lovable, the plot is filled with suspense and mystery and, the ending will eave you laughing and feeling satisfied. This might seem like a children’s film but it would guarantee nightmares for a little child; it is a mature take on Santa Claus and will maybe make you believe in him once more. Maybe it will even make you realize that those who are naughty are in for an awful surprise.

5 out of 5 stars

-Andrea Boulet