This is such a magical little animated Christmas gem, from the National Film Board of Canada.
Directed by Nicole Lemay, and narrated by Donald Sutherland...this film weaves a poetic tale that is somewhat akin to the Hans Christian Andersen classic, A Christmas Carol.
Though, at the same time, it's also quite original.
It tells the story of a struggling toymaker- named Noel Noel- who just can't get the community to support him.
He lives beside a forest, where reindeer dwell amidst the pines.
One pine, in particular, standing above the rest.
For, within it, dwell a family of fairies.
One of which- Beatrice- takes a liking to the toymaker, thus, she tries to help him out.
But, as part of the deal, he must ensure he will always protect the old pine in which she, the fairies, and reindeer live.
Feeling the same way about her, he tries to woo her with little gifts, he makes in his shop...but he's too shy to tell her how he feels outright.
Thus, she is not impressed by these gifts, and, too naive to understand why, he plans to seek a large fortune, thinking his gifts aren't extravagant enough to impress her.
Unfortunately, his search for great wealth and power, leads him to fell the tree he promised to protect...which renders him cursed.
And, having forgotten the promise he made to Beatrice, he even captures the reindeer, so as to sell them as "living toys".
One of the reindeer is purchased by the parents of a young girl, named Zoey, for Christmas.
Which just so happens to be the same time that his curse comes into effect...transforming him into a hideous beast.
Upon this transformation, he cries out...and Zoey's reindeer hears this...and, feeling compassion, goes to help the man.
Of course, Zoey chases after her new friend...and, in turn, her old friend (her puppy) chases after her, to make sure she's ok.
On her way, she finds Beatrice's glasses- the only memento he had left from her- which he had dropped while sludging through the snow.
Zoey kindly returns the glasses to the man, just as her reindeer approaches.
Only for them both to be whisked away by a haunting specter.
Which takes them to the stump of the old tree.
It turns out that Zoey's reindeer is actually Beatrice, in disguise.
And Zoey's destiny is to help the man break the curse.
Which leads him to tell Beatrice how he truly feels about her.
And, in turn, a happy ending to this tumultuous tale.
I truly love this little film.
Because, not only is it absolutely magical, with a wonderfully happy ending, but it also has a bit of a horror angle to it, while also being saturated with humour.
Another animated masterpiece, from the NFB, that shouldn't be missed.
9 out of 10.
