If dreams were true

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Movie
German title If dreams were true
Original title One Magic Christmas
Country of production Canada , USA
original language English
Publishing year 1985
length 89 minutes
Rod
Director Phillip Borsos
script Phillip Borsos,
Thomas Meehan ,
Barry Healey
production Peter O'Brian
music Michael Conway Baker
camera Frank Tidy
cut Sidney Wolinsky
occupation

If dreams were true (original title One Magic Christmas ) is a Canadian - American Christmas film from 1985 , which was directed by Phillip Borsos . The film admonishes to spend the Christmas season traditionally and to reflect on the essentials. The leading roles are cast with Mary Steenburgen , Harry Dean Stanton , Arthur Hill , Elisabeth Harnois and Gary Basaraba . The film advertised at the time with the words: "A touching fantasy film in the Disney style."

action

The Grainger family has to save where they can after father Jack has lost his job. The family even has to leave their house by December 31, because it belongs to Grainger's former employer and is only rented to company employees. And all of this despite the fact that Christmas is just around the corner, so that the pre-Christmas period is filled with packing and planning the move. Mother Ginny, who works in the supermarket, skimp on the money and also reminds her husband Jack to be reasonable not to throw the money out the window. For this reason, too, she cannot gain anything from Christmas. The children Abbie and Cal will only receive modest gifts this year.

But then a terrible misfortune happens: Jack Grainger, who wants to withdraw $ 200 from the bank's savings for Christmas gifts, is shot by a bank robber. The robber is a desperate jobless man who is broke and has a young son. He steals Jack Grainger's car for his escape, with his children Abbie and Cal in the back seat. The car breaks through a bridge railing and the occupants drown.

The area where the Graingers live is guarded by the Archangel Gideon, who is very saddened that Ginny Grainger does not share the spirit of Christmas. He makes sure that the children are resurrected. Little Abbie can't come to terms with the fact that her father is no longer there. Driven by love for him, she looks for a way to bring him back to life. The mysterious angel Gideon also steps in here by inviting Abbie on a trip to the North Pole, because only there is someone who can help her. There the girl meets Santa Claus, who is in the middle of the preparations for Christmas. Abbie pleads with him to raise her father from the dead. But the old man replies that only her mother Ginny is able to work this miracle by believing in Santa Claus again and celebrating the festival with dignity. But he doesn't send little Abbie home without any help. From his archives he pulls out the wish list that Ginny wrote to him as a child. Abbie travels back to her family with this relic of hope and truthfully reports about her experiences. However, you don't believe anyone. For her mother, Ginny, Santa Claus is just a pipe dream. But when she reads the letter she brought with her from her own childhood a short time later, she can hardly believe her eyes. Should Santa Claus really exist? In order not to falter again, she writes a letter to Santa Claus and tells him her most ardent wish. As soon as she has posted the letter, Jack is suddenly in the middle of the street. Overjoyed, the couple embrace each other.

The family relived the last days before Christmas, but the fateful bank robbery was left out. Every family member receives the gifts that were on the wish list. Little Molly from the neighborhood, whose family is very poor, is also given a lot of attention.

production

Production notes, locations

The film was produced by Walt Disney Pictures in collaboration with Silver Screen Partners II, Téléfilm Canada and Northpole Picture Company of Canada. The film was shot between February 11 and April 10, 1985 in Owen Sound , Collingwood , Meaford and Scarborough , all of which are located in the Canadian province of Ontario , and in The Bank of Montreal in Meaford.

Elisabeth Harnois, who was almost six at the time, made her highly acclaimed debut in this film. For example, DVD Izzy said she was doing some of the best child actor performances anyone has ever seen. Elias Koteas in the role of Eddie and Sarah Polley as the poorer neighbor girl Molly Monaghan also made their film debut in this production.

Film music

publication

The film was first released on November 22, 1985 in Canada and the United States simultaneously. In December 1985 it was published in Brazil, in September 1986 in the United Kingdom, in November 1986 in Australia and Colombia, in December 1986 in Uruguay (Montevideo) and in November 1987 in Japan (via video). The film was also released in Bulgaria, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Peru, Poland, Portugal, the Soviet Union, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine and under the title If dreams were true in the Federal Republic of Germany.

The film was released by the Walt Disney studio with a German soundtrack on DVD.

reception

criticism

The critic Roger Ebert said that what we have here is a film with an intelligent script, wonderful performances and a skilful direction, but the tactic still doesn't work. Although there will be a happy ending at some point, the film initially spends almost 90 minutes telling a very, very sad story. For the happy ending, however, the viewer really has to sweat, the family could have been given less dramatic problems than three deaths in addition to unemployment and no toys under the tree. Since you already wear something thick. It is obvious, however, that a lot of love and effort has gone into this film. Borso's pictures developed a real bittersweet response, Ebert wrote on. Steenburgen finds exactly the right tone for her role as a mother who doesn't believe in Christmas. She is not mean, just cynical and tired. Arthur Hill is fine as a kind old great grandfather and Gary Basaraba has a nice, engaging personality. Harry Dean Stanton's Archangel is sad and affectionate, but he looks just like the guy our parents told us not to talk to.

Brian Costello of Common sense media summed up his assessment in the sentence: "The Christmas movie of the 80s has depressing, intense scenes." He argued that parents should know that, although 'One Magic Christmas' is ultimately a story about the The importance of believing in the Christmas spirit is that there are many scenes that could be difficult for younger and more sensitive viewers.

On the side EFilmCritic.com are talking about a holiday flop that should be a cult favorite among cynics who loved him, and where well-intentioned, sincere family films failed miserably. You probably don't even realize how crazy this movie is - watch it at your own risk! There was one star for quality and five stars for absolute nonsense, making the average three stars.

Matthew M. Foster's evaluation on Foster on Film went in the same direction. It says that someone from Disney must have been hit in the head by a heavy metal pipe, perhaps thrown by an angry servant in a mouse costume. The resulting concussion is the best explanation for the green glow of One Magic Christmas , a bleak renewal of It's a Wonderful Life , but without the miracle or the joy of Christmas. This G-rated abomination is (again) evidence that the MPAA is a useless organization whose ratings should be ignored. No child has ever been psychologically injured by seeing a nipple or hearing the word 'fuck', but this film will mess up a child for life. Suffering is no fun (it should be mentioned because it is big news for the makers of this film) but not the critic's idea of ​​Christmas entertainment. The end result presented by the film is indescribable and an insult to anyone who has really lost family members. This is not a family film, even if it is advertised that way. Love should be kept away from the family. The film is neither fun nor meaningful or heartwarming. He is just demoralizing.

Even Michael Walsh of Reeling back had slight difficulties with the film and wrote, describing Thomas Meehan's script or defining even rudimentary Christmas spirit. In fact, this is a film that meticulously avoids any reference to Christmas in terms of its religious or spiritual significance. Love, offer an angel as an agent for a magical Santa Claus and the North Pole as a happy afterlife, where good people go when they die. Nevertheless, the film manages to present a series of sincere moments. Directed by Phillip Borsos, the little actress Harnois gives a performance that can make Steven Spielberg jealous. The film is at its most beautiful when it revolves around this wonderfully talented child.

The side The film Atheist saw a similar view. One Magic Christmas is a miserable, sad entry in the Christmas melodrama category that was stolen from A Christmas Carol and It's a Wonderful Life . There is not a moment in the film that is not uncomfortable and its pace is painfully slow. It's a bad movie and parents shouldn't get confused by the name Disney and assume it's good family entertainment - because their kids will end up crying. The strange message is that if you believe in Santa Claus, death has no power over you, because the strange angel works for Santa Claus and brings the praying little girl to the North Pole, not to heaven, not to God.

The MovieScene was undecided, also pointing out that the film was at least inspired by other great Christmas films, but was still a strange film. Only at the end is the film also suitable for children, before it is simply too contradictory. The change to a childish ending was annoying because the acting had been damn good up until then. The mix of films just doesn't work, so it feels like you've thrown two films together.

On the side DVD Izzy.com it is, this is a wonderful little film, which had been as overlooked as good by most people. The film, which came to the cinema in 1985 rather inconspicuously, is one of Disney's jewels and deserves more recognition. There is also talk of a heartwarming, imaginative holiday drama that probably appeals to adults even more than children. Overall, this is an enchanting Christmas film that is definitely worth it.

Cinema said: "Really nice: The Advent treats teach the Christmas message with not too much frosting." Conclusion: "Happy news from Disney."

Awards

1986: Genie Awards

  • in the "Best Sound Editing" category
    (Robin Leigh, Richard Cadger, Glen Gauthier , Michael O'Farrell, Alan Geldart, Alison Clark) and
  • in the area of ​​"overall sound"
    (David Appleby, Joe Grimaldi, Bruce Nyznik, Bruce Carwardine, Glen Gauthier, Don White)

Nominations for the Genie Award

  • in the “Best Film” category: Peter O'Brian
  • in the category "Best performance by an actress in a leading role": Mary Steenburgen
  • in the “Best performance on the camera” category: Frank Tidy
  • in the “Best Performance in Artistic Direction” category: Bill Brodie
  • in the “Best Performance Costume Design” category: Olga Dimitrov

1987: Two nominations for the Young Artist Award

  • once in the category "Extraordinary Drama in Family Entertainment"
  • once in the category "Exceptional performance by a young actress in a leading role: Elisabeth Harnois"

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ If dreams were true ... Fig. Walt Disney Home video case at themoviedb.org
  2. ↑ If dreams were true (1985) Filming & Production in the IMDb
  3. ↑ One Magic Christmas - Disney DVD Review see page dvdizzy.com. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  4. ↑ If dreams were true (1985) soundtracks on the IMDb
  5. ↑ One Magic Christmas Fig. DVD case Walt Disney Pictures presents
  6. ↑ One Magic Christmas see rogerebert.com, November 22, 1985 (English). Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  7. ^ Brian Costello: One Magic Christmas on the commonsensemedia.org page. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  8. ↑ One Magic Christmas see page efilmcritic.com (English). Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  9. ^ Matthew M. Foster: One Magic Christmas (1985) see page fosteronfilm.com (English). Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  10. ↑ Michael Walsh : Christmas Cheer, or Else. angel represents Santa with Claws see page reelingback.com (English). Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  11. ↑ One Magic Christmas see page filmatheist.com (English). Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  12. ^ One Magic Christmas (1985). For Santa's Gift, a Christmas Angel, see themoviescene.co.uk. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  13. ↑ One Magic Christmas see page dvdizzy.com (English). Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  14. ↑ If dreams were true see page cinema.de (including 12 film images). Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  15. ↑ If dreams were true (1985) Awards in the IMDb