Director: Gil Kenan
Starring: Maggie Smith, Henry Lawfull, Michiel Huisman, Jim Broadbent, Sally Hawkins, Joel Fry, Kristin Wiig, Toby Jones, voice of: Stephen Merchant.
Distributor: Netflix
Runtime: 106 mins. Reviewed in Dec 2021
Reviewer: Fr Peter Malone msc

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Rating notes: Some scenes may scare small children.

London at Christmas. Aunt Ruth comes to babysit three children and tells them a tale of Lapland, of a young boy, Nick, who discovers a village of elves, rescues a kidnapped elf and is made welcome, helps in the making of toys and chocolates – a variation on the Saint Nicholas-Santa Claus story.

This is a British Christmas entertainment for the younger audiences, but with something of a classic British cast, parents and grandparents may well enjoy watching it with the children.

The movie presents a different take on some Christmas origins. The perspective is that of elves, reindeers and presents, with no mention of the Bethlehem-origins story. Even St Nicholas might not be pleased with this film as it offers quite an alternative to his story, the Bishop who kindly provided gifts and allowed his name to be transferred from St Nicholas to Santa Claus.

So, this is an alert to those who might want to see something of an acknowledgement of what Christmas really is rather than just the story of elves and gifts.

A film with Maggie Smith in its opening sequence certainly commands attention. No refugee from Downton Abbey here. Off she trudges in snowclad London streets – Aunt Ruth, to babysit three children and tell them stories. They are a bit grumpy, something of a captive audience – but we are willing to listen to her. And, of course, they will too.

She tells a story of a remote town in Lapland, where a father who works with his son, Nikolas, (Lawfull). There are some cantankerous types in the town but the King (Broadbent) urges everyone to hope. When his father goes north and is not heard of, Nikolas decides to search for him.

On the journey Nikolas is accompanied by a reindeer, Blitzen, and his pet mouse, Miika whom he trains to talk (voiced by Merchant). He does discover Elfland, controlled by an almost-witch-like character, Mother Vodol (Hawkins). There are some friendly elves, especially Father Topo (Jones), and some of the children. As Nikolas continues his quest to find his father, he discovers some sinister doings, especially the kidnapping of a little elf, confined to a cage.

All kinds of adventures ensue, Nikolas and father reunited, the rescue of the kidnapped elf, a return to Elfland, Nikolas put on trial, but the return of the captured elf effects a wonderful transformation. The elves are back to work making plenty of toys, Nikolas taking a bag full to the King, who then joins with Nick and Blitzen to do the Christmas tour and a happy distribution of gifts. And there is a curious comic cameo by Wiig as the grumpy Aunt Carlotta who is partial to chocolates, especially those made in Elfland.

So here we are, a Lapland alternative to North Pole stories (though they are much the same), an opportunity to listen to Maggie Smith telling the story (and noticing her ears as she puts on her hat and goes on her way).