Home for Christmas

Christmas Eve in the Norwegian town of Skogli: while the Northern Lights dance across the sky, a kaleidoscope of human stories unfolds in the snow-covered town. A doctor is unexpectedly called to assist with a birth, a homeless man encounters an old friend, a boy falls in love with his Muslim neighbor, and a man struggles with the decision between his wife and his mistress. These and other episodes weave a multifaceted portrait of longing, loneliness, hope and reconciliation – all in the course of a single evening, which becomes a turning point for many of the characters. HOME FOR CHRISTMAS (original title: HJEM TIL JUL) by Bent Hamer is based on short stories from Levi Henriksen's collection “Only Soft Presents Under the Tree”. The film celebrated its world premiere at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival and won the award for best screenplay at the San Sebastián International Film Festival, among others. It was also screened at the Filmfest Hamburg and the Lübeck Film Days. With its mixture of laconic humor and deep compassion, the film offers an unembellished but warm-hearted look at human interaction at Christmas time.

Keywords

  • Christmas
  • Screen: Scandinavia
  • europe
  • family
  • friendship

Actors

  • Fridtjov Såheim
  • Cecilie A. Mosli
  • Trond Fausa Aurvåg
  • Ingunn Beate Øyen
  • Kai Remlow

Director

  • Bent Hamer

Kids & Family


1h 20min


12 FSK

DE

Germany
Norway
Sweden
2010
Adapted from a series of short stories, this movie weaves together the lives of people struggling to find their way home on a Christmas Eve.

Adapted from a series of short stories, this movie weaves together the lives of people struggling to find their way home on a Christmas Eve.


Christmas Eve in the Norwegian town of Skogli: while the Northern Lights dance across the sky, a kaleidoscope of human stories unfolds in the snow-covered town. A doctor is unexpectedly called to assist with a birth, a homeless man encounters an old friend, a boy falls in love with his Muslim neighbor, and a man struggles with the decision between his wife and his mistress. These and other episodes weave a multifaceted portrait of longing, loneliness, hope and reconciliation – all in the course of a single evening, which becomes a turning point for many of the characters.


HOME FOR CHRISTMAS (original title: HJEM TIL JUL) by Bent Hamer is based on short stories from Levi Henriksen's collection “Only Soft Presents Under the Tree”. The film celebrated its world premiere at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival and won the award for best screenplay at the San Sebastián International Film Festival, among others. It was also screened at the Filmfest Hamburg and the Lübeck Film Days. With its mixture of laconic humor and deep compassion, the film offers an unembellished but warm-hearted look at human interaction at Christmas time.

Festivals

Cast & Crew