A Boy Called Christmas

Year 2021 British Christmas fantasy film, A Boy Called Christmas, has been directed by Gil Kenan. The film is based on a 2015 book by the same name by Matt Haig.

Netflix released the film on 24Nov2021. Film has received positive reviews from critics.

On Christmas Eve, Andrea, Moppet, and Patrick are put in the care of Aunt Ruth as their father has to leave for an urgent work related task. The mother of these children has died recently. Aunt Ruth, an old woman, tries to entertain the kids by telling a Christmas tale as follows.

13 year old Nikolas lives in the forest with his his father Joel who is a woodcutter. Nikolas' mother has died two years ago. Nikolas tries to take comfort every night remembering the legend of a place called Elfhelm. It is the place where a girl found a magical place inhabited by elves who help her survive the winter. One night a mouse tries to steal some food but Nikolas spares his life, calls the mouse Miika and tries to teach him to speak.

One day, the King calls his subjects and promises a big reward to one who is able to bring an object that would bring hope to the kingdom. Joel joins a group of hunters who try to find Elfhelm. Joel has to leave Nikolas under the care of Aunt Carlotta, a selfish woman, who makes the life of Nikolas miserable.

Around the same time, Nikolas finds a map that confirms the existence of Elfhelm. He decides to go to the extreme North to find his father and give him the map. During the journey, Nikolas finds out that Miika has learned to speak and this provides hope to continue his quest. Once they reach Half Moon Forest, a reindeer allows Nikolas to mount him. Nikolas names him Blitzen.

When the trio reach Elfhelm, they find nothing there except for Joel's knife. Nikolas loses hope and collapses. There he is found by Father Topo and Little Noosh. Father Topo gives Nikolas a hope spell that helps him recover. Father Topo informs him that he is in Elfhelm, but the place is only visible to those people who believe in the place.

Nikolas is able to see the place after believing in the elves and tries to stay in the town. He comes to learn that a group of humans, including his father Joel, have kidnapped a small elf called Little Kip. Nikolas is sentenced to be eaten by a troll in the Dark Tower. However, Nikolas manages to escape from them with the help of a young fairy called the Truth Pixie. He then decides to try to find Joel's group and clarify the misunderstanding.

In the forest, Nikolas finds a group of hunters and Little Kip. He is trapped by the hunters and discovers his father is along with them. Joel has a change of heart and comes up with a plan. He frees Nikolas, Little Kip, and Blitzen and all four of them run away from the hunters. Since Blitzen is unable to lift the sled with Joel sitting in it, he decides to sacrifice himself to allow the trio to fly away.

Nikolas comes back to Elfhelm with Little Kip. He is able to bring the little elf on time to prevent Father Topo from being punished. Little Kip's parents reward Nikolas with the elves' traditional making of toys. Nikolas then has an idea. He makes all all the elves create a bountiful of toys and candies.

When Nikolas is about to ride Blitzen with the gifts, he is confronted by Mother Vodol. She sees the locket he carries with him that has the portrait of her mother, revealing that the girl who reached Elfhelm as per the legend is no other but Nikolas's mother.

Mother Vodol tells Nikolas how she lost faith in the humans when news spread in the place that the men (including Joel) has taken Little Kip. Nikolas tells her that his mother always remembered how overjoyed it was in Elfhelm.

Nikolas goes back to the kingdom one night. He shows himself to the King, offering one of the toys. This confuses the King and he asks Nikolas about the meaning of the gift. This leads to Nikolas bringing the King to all the houses in the kingdom and leave toys for the kids while trying not to disturb them. The King is moved and decides to help him.

Finishing the story, Aunt Ruth explains to all 4 kids the meaning of Nikolas's actions. When the childrens' father comes back, to their surprise, they find the living room to be filled with Christmas ornaments and presents. Aunt Ruth leaves the place and throws a firecracker in the last scene, revealing herself to be the Truth Pixie.