Christmas Story (2007)

[bunniefuu]

[ man narrating ]
you all know who I am.

We meet once a year,

Every Christmas Eve.

But did you know that
I, too, was a child once?

What?
You don't believe me?

Well, let me tell you a story.

[ baby crying ]
shh, shh-shh-shh-shh.

Nikolas. Nikolas darling.

Aada is running
a very high fever.

- Your dad and I have to take
her to the village right away.
- [ door opens ]

Here's enough firewood
until we return.

When the big hand is here
and the little hand is there,
we'll be back at the latest.

And we'll take
a shortcut through the ice,
and we'll save time.

Nikolas, you could finish
making your present for Aada
while we're gone.

Couldn't you?
Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.
[ kisses ]

[ door opens, closes ]

[ sighs ]
don't worry, Nikolas.
We won't be gone that long.

And we will be back soon.

All right?

[ grunting ]

[ blowing ]

[ knocking ]

Nikolas, we found your
parents' tracks on the ice.

The footsteps--
they lead straight into
open water.

I'm sorry, Nikolas.

I am so sorry.

[ woman ] of course nobody wants
to leave an orphaned boy
to freeze out in the cold...

Or starve to death.
Of course not.

But Thomas and I already have
three children of our own
to look after.

Everybody's
got children
to look after.

Yes, and every fisherman's wife
knows how hard it is to make
a living. And as for Nikolas--

Throw the boy into the lake
with his parents!
That'll take care of him.

[ chuckles ] and I could do
the throwing, if nobody else
around here is man enough.

[ laughing ]

He's scurried off!
The little runt's
got no sense of humor.

[ panting ]

I have an idea.

Kristina and I may be able
to take the boy for a while.

The fishing's been good
this season, and we've
been able to save.

I think we can manage
to feed one more mouth--
at least through the winter.

Don't you think?
[ murmurings ]

I think the whole village
should take responsibility
and raise the boy-- together.

How many households...
Are present here?

One, two, three,
four, five, six.

How about if each household
takes care of the boy
for one year...

And then hands him over
to the next family?

- [ murmurings ]
- I'm sure each family
can manage one year.

You won't get me involved
in that sort of nonsense.

But you don't even live
in this village, Isaac.
It's got nothing to do with you.

- Ah, be quiet.
- Oh, come on!

[ baby crying ]

[ door opens, closes ]

So, together, we'll all
take care of Nikolas.
Yes. Yes, we will.

Thomas's family
can start things off.

The boy will move to
a new home every Christmas day,
just like today.

- We're all agreed then?
- [ murmurs of agreement ]

Good.
[ gavel raps ]

Merry Christmas, little Aada.

[ baby crying ]

[ Nikolas narrating ]
I could not forget
my mother and my father...

And my sister Aada.

I knew they would not
be coming back,

But I missed them
very much.

[ chattering ]

Hello.

Thanks.

Careful.

[ laughs ]

But time heals all wounds,

And by Autumn
the sadness began to fade away.

My boat is broken.
Can you fix it?

Ask your dad to fix it.

My dad went fishing.

- Ask your mom then.
- Mom can't do it.

Okay, give it here.

[ tapping ]

- [ Nikolas ]
turn, boat! Turn!
- Come over here!

Come here, boat!
Come here, boat!
Turn right!

[ both giggling ]

[ Nikolas narrating ]
I didn't know it back then,

But Emil would become
a good friend-- my best friend.

- [ Nikolas ] look how it
skips across the water.
- Great!

[ giggles ]
stretch your arm back and throw!

I can throw it like this!

[ birds squawking ]

[ chattering ]

Here we go, mm-hmm.
Up, up, up.
One, two, three--

[ grunts ]
good. Now let's get another one.

[ Nikolas narrating ]
then came the moment
I had been dreading all along.

I had to move to another family
for the very first time.

Are you sure you can make it
to their house by yourself?
Mm-hmm.

Bye.
Bye-bye.
Bye-bye.

Bye-bye.
Bye.
[ door opens ]

[ door closes ]

[ children chattering,
laughing ]

[ Nikolas narrating ]
years, families and Christmases
came and went.

Every Christmas
I carved presents...

For the children
of my former families.

As the years passed,
there were so many of them that
I had to deliver the presents...

To their front doors
at night.
[ blowing ]

Well, that suited me fine,

Because I really didn't want
to make a great fuss about it
or anything.

Instead, I pretended
not to know...

If someone came to thank me
after Christmas.

On my sixth year,

Things didn't turn out exactly
as they were supposed to.

That was a hard year
for the whole village.

An early frost wiped out
our entire harvest,

And the lake
seemed empty of fish.

[ deer lowing ]
no fish today either?

No, none today.

That's a shame.

[ Nikolas narrating ]
unless things took
a turn for the better,

Not one of the families
would be able to give me
a home for the coming winter.

[ dog barking ]

[ chuckles ]

Emil? What is it?

It's crazy Isaac.
Run for it!

[ Isaac growls ]

Gather around!
Gather around, everybody!

Get your homes ready
for Christmas!

Cups, spoons, ladles,
bowls, spatulas!

Everything made of wood
for sale!

And if it's not here
on the load,
I'll get it later!

You, boy, come here.

[ grunts ]

This wasn't bought from me.
[ horse nickers ]

You've been dealing
with my rivals, eh?

Other carpenters,
and that's why they won't
buy Isaac's goods now.

It's been a bad year.
We have no money.
We can barely feed ourselves.

Who did you buy this from?
Out with it!

From nobody.
I made it myself.
Hah! Don't lie to me.

Whose boy are you anyway?

Nobody's.

Oh, you're the poor devil
who's going around
from house to house.

Huh?

Where are the others?
At the village meeting.

[ chuckles ]

What's so important that
they must have a meeting, huh?

They're deciding
what to do with me.
Nobody can afford to keep me.

No wonder.
You must be such a glutton
that you ruined the village.

Now I can't sell anything.
You should be cast into
the lake! Get lost!

But why?

You don't even
like children.
He can help me at work.

We all know you, Isaac.

I was planning
to shape that brat
into a man within a year.

Well, if my offer isn't
good enough for you,

There's nothing I can do.

Wait. Uh, hold on, Isaac.

Uh, what if we'd
still consider--

There's nothing to consider.
He'll be better off with me...

Than starving here
in this poor village.

All right?

This is probably the last time
I'll be able to visit you here.

Isaac lives so far away.

[ kisses ]

[ sniffles ]
merry Christmas, little Aada.

Nikolas!
Come and have a look.

Nikolas.

It has now been six years
since you were orphaned
and came here to us.

At first back then, I was sorry
that we could not find
a permanent home--

A permanent family
to take care of you.

We had to solve the matter
in a different way.

You had to go from home to home
and stay with each family...

Only for a year.

Today I believe that
none of the families
regret that solution.

We have all
gotten to know you.

And so that's how you--
that's how you have become...

Our own child.

- And our own brother.
- [ laughing ]

On behalf of us all,
and especially the children,

We wish to give you
something to remember us by.

- But I can't.
- Of course you could.

The sled is yours.

Still loafing about.
Get in the sleigh!

Or you can walk
the whole way.

[ blusters ]

[ bell jingling ]

[ gasps ]

[ sniffling ]

Why, you're not going
to cry, are you?

Come on.
Ginger, trot along home
before night falls.

[ clicking tongue ]

Whoa! Ah!

What are you looking at?
Take ginger into the stall.

Huh?

I'll go inside and light
the stove. And leave
this sleigh in the stall.

And no mucking about here.
You came here to work. Get up!

And you sleep there.
But--

No buts! Did you forget
whose house this is?

- And you will call me master.
- Yes.

What did you say?
Yes, master.

Very good.
Your name is brat.

It suits you better
than Nikolas. Take your bags
in there. Move it!

[ ticking ]

[ Isaac snoring ]

[ bird calling ]

Wake up, brat.
Let's get to work.

Ahh.

Let's get to the workshop.
You go on ahead.

But... Where's the workshop?

You're standing on it.
[ laughing ]
[ floor creaking ]

[ laughing continues ]
[ door closes ]

What do you think?
[ chuckles ]

Ah. Take a look
at this dresser.

The secret is in
the wooden inlays.

It's made of maple.
That is how I make money.

Huh? Scoops and ladles
are child's play
compared to this.

These will go to parsons,
gentleman farmers
and other wealthy people.

This will go to a judge.

Is that chair
going to the judge?

It's made of pine.
This is made of maple.

Can't you tell one type
of wood from another?

Maybe I made a mistake.
You're no good as a carpenter.

You didn't make a mistake,
master. I'm a quick learner.

A quick learner, eh?
Let's see how quickly
you learn to tidy up then.

Huh? Get on with it.

- Where are you going?
- Upstairs.

You don't need to go upstairs
to tidy up the workshop.

There's no need
to clean here--

[ grunts ]
the workbench
is covered with dust.

If it gets mixed
with varnish or stain,
the whole work is ruined.

Lesson number one:

The workshop will be
kept tidy at all times,
no matter what.

Lesson number two:
Hand me your carving knife.

You don't use this
on my wood.

No, don't!

Huh?
It was my father's.

Oh. Get yourself
a good knife
from over there.

[ labored breathing ]

[ scraping ]

Go to bed.

Make sure you snuff out
the candles.

- Why?
- It has no branches.

Hmm.

[ panting ]

How can I find
my things now?

[ Isaac snoring ]

[ yawns ]

[ bellows pumping ]

Master.
Huh?

A year has passed,
and I have to go soon.

So I thought I would
thank all the villagers.

I thought that...
Maybe I could have a day off?

No!
When time is pressing,
you don't waste time.

You work harder.
[ grunts ]

Oh, so, a day off, eh?

[ panting ]

What are you
doing here?
[ gasps ]

Why aren't you in bed?

What, you've stolen
wood from me?

It's just a piece
you threw away, master.

Oh, this is what you do
behind my back, eh?

I'm sorry, master.

[ grunts ]
[ gasps ]

It isn't badly broken.

Uhh-- all right,
bring me the wood drill
and a headless nail.

Ah! Why are you working
in the dark? It only results
in duds and rejects.

There.

[ blowing ]

Now you can't tell
it's broken.

You have more toys
somewhere, right?

You must really like
those little brats.

Did you plan to slip out
to deliver presents because
I didn't give you a day off?

That's what I thought.

Go on then.

But remember to return
before sunrise.

We don't idle away,
even though it's Christmas.

[ pencil scratching ]

Hmm.
Master?

Not a word.
I may change my mind.

You can build your toys
in the evenings.
All right?

I might even help you.
At least now I can
get some sleep.

[ chuckles ]
building toys in the middle
of the night! [ groaning ]

[ chuckles ]

[ Isaac ]
there you are.
Finally you showed up.

May have thought you had gone
into hibernation or something.

I already put your stuff
into the sled. All right?

[ ginger blusters ]

What are you
looking at, huh?

You wouldn't have made it
back before sunrise,

And all the work you had done
would have been wasted.

Now hop in. Let's go.

Let's go!

That was the last house.

This is foolishness.
Foolishness.

[ groans ]
I can understand why you do
this, but an old man like me?

Let's go home.
There's still
one more place.

[ grunts ]

Hold on. Let me take
a look at that.

Ah.

I made a horse
like this...

When the boys
were young.

Hmm, just like this.

What boys?

My boys.

I had two boys--

Herman and Henrik.

And a wife,
Margaret.

She died when the boys
were about your age.

Ah--

Then they ran away to sea
and left me all alone,

'cause I had become
the way I am.

Um-- I see--

[ sniffles ]
Henrik and Herman when I see
different children.

That's why I'm mean
towards them.

I still miss my boys.

[ sniffling continues ]

What I mean to say is, uh,

You could stay with me...

If you like.

And merry Christmas,
Nikolas.

My father's knife.

Thank you, master.

And from now on
you can call me Isaac.
Isaac.

Merry Christmas, Aada.

Merry Christmas, Aada.

Merry Christmas, Isaac.

[ chuckles ]
merry Christmas, Nikolas.

That's enough.
Let's go.

[ Nikolas narrating ]
that Christmas
changed everything.

My vagabond life
was finally over.

Isaac provided me
with a real home...

That I would never
have to give up.

[ bell tolling ]

[ chattering ]

Thank you very much.
Good day to you.

Thank you very, very much.
Good day to you, Madame.

Hurry up, hurry up,
hurry up!

Good day to you!

[ chuckles ]
yes.

Come and see
the finest craftsmanship--

[ door opens ]

[ ginger blusters ]

[ Nikolas narrating ]
the years with Isaac
passed quickly.

And before I knew it,
I was all grown up--

[ blowing ]
with a beard and all.

[ goats bleating ]
the village had grown.

It spread from the shore
to the forests.

And new generations of children
were born so fast...

That Isaac and I
could hardly keep count.

But actually,
we did have a secret helper.

[ bell tingles ]

[ footsteps approaching ]

Nikolas.

Emil.
[ laughs ]

Come here. [ chuckles ]
long time no see.
You should come over more often.

It's been busy at the workshop.
Isaac's not so young.
Hmm.

Do you have the list?

Hmm.

Well.

So many
new children again.
Hmm!

- In fact, there's one name
missing from that list.
- Hmm?

Elsa.

Is it a--
a girl,
three months old.

Let's add her name
to the list.

And what's the name
of this little Princess?

Aada.

Aada?

Hello.
[ chuckles ]

Aada.

Whoa.

[ hinges creak ]

Nikolas.

This is Henrik
and Herman.

My sons.

I sought them out,

Found them and asked them
to come here.

Yes.

We were wrong
when we left.

So we want to make it up
to our father.

We came to take him
to live with us.

Live with you? Where?

Away from here.

Father's just too old
to be living in these
arctic conditions.

What about me?

You can have the house...

And the workshop.

You've earned them.

Wait, Nikolas.

Nikolas.

Nikolas.

Try to understand.

Even though I love you
like my own son.

This key...

Opens the chest
under my drawer.

I've always been frugal.

Maybe too much so.

I think
you can do better.

Try to understand.

Try to understand.

[ sniffles ]
try.

[ grunting ]

Nikolas?

- Emil.
- Nikolas.

Hello.
Hello.

Hello.
[ laughing ] ah!
Hello!

Where have you been?
Here.

Here?
Here, here.

Here!
[ chuckling ]

I haven't finished
everything yet though.

There's enough presents
for years, at least.

There's barely enough
for next Christmas.

What's that?
A map.

There, there.

To that village,
to those houses.

And there, there,
there, there, there,
there, there, there.

- Christmas presents!
- Christmas presents?

- Yes!
- That many villages
and children.

How can you tell
what goes where
and who it goes to?

There's a simple
solution.

I'll wrap
the presents in packages
and write names on them.

Packages?
Yes.

- Ingenious, isn't it?
- How are you gonna do all this?

[ laughing ]

Isaac saved everything
he ever made.

Now I can bring
Christmas Joy to children
for the rest of my life.

Nikolas, no one can live
just for Christmas.

I've been very selfish.

I've only given presents
to those who have helped me.

You? Selfish?

From now on,
I'll only appear
on Christmas Eve.

Nikolas. Nikolas!

I'll come to your shop
once a year,

Pick up my food and supplies,
pick up a list
of the new children.

There's more to life
than just Christmas.

Like what?

It's an impossible task.

You'll never get that many
presents on board anything.

And poor old ginger won't
be able to move such a load.

It can't be done.
Yes, it can.

It can't be done.
Oh, yes, it can.

It can't be done.
Not enough time
before Christmas.

Animals are quick
to learn, my dear.
Reindeer are not horses.

Listen, Hilda.
It's child's play.

I can handle
reindeer, my dear.
[ laughing ]

"reindeer, my dear."

You can try.

The reindeer obey me better,
by the way, when I've got
this cap on my head.

Sorry, Hilda.
That color would scare
even the squirrels away.

Reindeer will obey me even
with a bucket on my head.

Here, chickie, chickie, chickie!

Red caps.
Won't be needing
any red caps.

[ grunts ]

All right, guys.
Here we go.

Lesson's gonna start.
Antlers down.

Come on. Chop-chop.

Dasher, Dancer, Prancer
and Blitzen,

It's school time.

Time for
your first lesson.
[ grunts ]

It's lassoing.
Dancer, behave.

Sit there! Sit down.

Sit! Sit! Stay.

Okay. Right.
Here comes uncle Nik-- oh!

All right. Listen
to uncle Nikolas.
I'm gonna get ya.

Whoa! I'm gonna get ya.

Hey! Come on!

[ exhales ]

All right.
Let's try it again.
All right.

I'll strap-- hey! Whoa!
Hold it! Hold it!

Wait for me. Okay.
I'm gonna teach you guys--

[ screams ]

I won't hurt you. Whoa!

[ groans, coughs ]

[ exhausted sighing ]

A red cap,
a red coat.

And you know what?
I'll take red pants too.

Huh?
What was the color?

How 'bout red?

[ scoffs ]
what was that you said?

R-e-d!

I got a surprise for you!
[ chuckling ]

You'll see who's boss.

Come on, Blitzen!
Keep it movin'! h*!

Whoo!

[ chuckling ]
h*! h*!

Attaboy.

Well, Aada. I wonder
what you'll find in there.

A top.
That's wonderful.

[ Nikolas narrating ]
after a few years,

Children began spreading
all kinds of stories...

About some mysterious
bringer of Christmas presents.

Some swore that
on Christmas Eve,

They had seen bands of elves
delivering presents.

Others claimed
it was the work
of a child-loving gnome.

Luckily,
they didn't suspect me...

At all.

Nikolas is coming! Run!

Hey, Aada.

Where'd everybody go?

They're afraid of you.

Me?

What for?

Michael said
it's not you who brings us
presents at Christmas...

And that
you hate children.

Is it true?

Well, what Michael says
is half true.

I don't bring any presents,
but I don't hate children.

So who brings them?

Who knows?

[ chuckles ]
who knows?

[ door opens,
bell tingles ]

[ door closes ]

Nikolas told me
when I asked him.

Aada told me
you said you don't bring
Christmas presents.

Aada is right.

Aada!

Why did you say that?
Now go tell her the truth.

Definitely not.

The children must never
connect me with the presents.

- That would ruin everything.
- Why is that?

You'll understand one day.

[ quiet clanking ]

Nikolas!
Emil.

Have you seen Aada?
No.

- Aada's missing.
- When?

"dear mom and dad,

"please do not worry.
I've gone to find out...

Who really bring
the Christmas presents."

We have to wake everyone up
and organize a search party.

You have to lend me
some clothes.

Otherwise I'll be
giving myself away.

Okay, boys.
Hurry on home.

[ bell clanging ]

We'll look for Aada in pairs.
Each pair take a torch
and a lantern.

Aada can't have gone far.
Let's get moving!

- I know where she is.
- What did you say, Michael?

Aada went to
bring you a present.

Me? What for?

She doesn't believe you
don't bring us presents.

- So why didn't you
tell us that earlier?
- I promised not to tell.

Will Aada come back?

Aada!

Aada!
Aada!

Aada doesn't even
know where you live.
[ man ] Aada!

And even if she did--
she wouldn't
make it that far.

Aada!
Aada!

Aada!
Aada!

Aada!

Aada!

[ dog barking in distance ]

[ groans, sighs ]

Nikolas?

Aada.

Oh! Aada.

Nobody thought
you could manage
to get this far.

Twelve Miles?

Twelve Miles
in a blizzard.

How is that possible?

It was nothing
on a reindeer sleigh.

A reindeer sleigh?

What reindeer sleigh?

Suddenly,
a sleigh appeared.

I thought it was you,
but the sleigh was empty.

Well, not quite.

[ exhales ]

I was cold, so I
put on your clothes.

Then the reindeer
brought me here.

[ kisses ]

[ Nikolas narrating ]
so I told Aada everything--

How I'd become who I was...

And why I thought
it was so important...

To deliver presents
at Christmas.

I even revealed
my secret dream--

That the tradition
would carry on...

Even after I was gone.

I wonder how Aada would have
turned out if she hadn't become
the fairy of the lake.

Hopefully,
she'd be like you.

Merry Christmas, Aada.

Merry Christmas, Aada.

- Merry Christmas, Aada.
- Merry Christmas, Nikolas.

[ Nikolas narrating ]
Aada kept her promise.

She didn't reveal my secret.

In fact, quite the opposite.

He didn't actually look
like Nikolas at all.

He was just some wrinkly
old red-coated man...

Who called himself
father Christmas.

[ Nikolas narrating ]
the years passed by,
and before I even knew it,

My friendship with Aada
had lasted nearly years.

Nikolas. Nikolas.

Hmm? Oh!

- Well?
- I'm getting married.

[ packages falling,
clattering ]

[ exhales ]

- To Michael?
- Mm-hmm.

[ chuckling ]
[ chuckling,
grunting ]

[ laughing ]

[ kisses ]

[ muttering ]

- Nikolas.
- Yeah?

You'll still pick me up
on Christmas morning,
won't you?

Oh. Of course I will.

[ muttering continues ]

Whoa!

Hi.
Hey.

[ clicks tongue ]

[ giggling ]

[ water splashes ]

Thank you.
For what?

Everything.

Just... Everything.

[ bird squawking ]

My father died.

[ crying quietly ]

[ sniffles ]

Part of loving is also
the fear of losing it.

It's part of life.

Your father--

Emil taught me that.

And you've taught me
how wonderful it is
to give to other people.

Me?
Mmm.

Nikolas,

Maybe you should think
of yourself for a change,
not everyone else.

Nothing lasts forever.

[ grunts ]

[ Nikolas narrating ]
it was time for me
to give in to my years.

Next Christmas
would be my last.

My last Christmas.

That's beautiful.
Who is it for?

Can I wrap it up?
No. I want to
do it myself.

See you
Christmas morning.

Are you sure you don't
want us to help you
at Christmas?

Yes.

I want to do it alone.

Nikolas, remember
your promise.

This is the last
Christmas.

This is the last.

[ kisses ]

[ exhales ]

[ wind blowing ]

[ bells jingling ]

[ panting ]

Nikolas.

Nikolas!

"merry Christmas,
my little Aada.

Your brother, Nikolas."

"merry Christmas
to dear little Aada.
Your brother, Nikolas."

I don't know
what this means.

It means that we'll never
see Nikolas ever again.

What do you mean?

I can't explain it.
I just know.

Hello.

What are you doing?
Michael, why are you
doing that?

We agreed--
it's what Nikolas wanted--
the tradition to carry on.

No. If you made a present
for our Nikolas,

Other children
will be disappointed.
Not necessarily.

What do you mean?
Other fathers
have done this too.

It's not at all
the same thing.

Michael,
that's cheating.

[ footsteps ]

[ clanking ]

Michael.

Michael!

[ wind whistling ]

Merry Christmas,
little Aada,

And merry Christmas,
Nikolas.

[ kisses ]

Go, dasher! Go, Dancer!
Go, Prancer and Blitzen!

Hello!
[ laughing ]

Yea! Hey, hey!

Yea!

Merry Christmas!

[ folk pop ]

[ man singing in Finnish ]

[ continues ]

[ ends ]

---the end---