Christmas movies are a genre of their own. They tend to be heartwarming dramedies akin to slice-of-life movies that make us emotional but also offer us a sense of warmth and comfort. Centered around the year-end festival, these movies often speak about the spirit of togetherness and are drenched in a cozy, celebratory spirit of the festival. From Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life” to Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers,” we have seen the festival bringing people together, literally or emotionally. Tyler Taormina’s “Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point” is the latest, charming addition to this list that uses its big ensemble to offer a time capsule to a a bygone era.
While Christmas is a cause for celebration, it may not be the same for everyone everywhere. Some may cherish getting together and sharing the same space with their families. For some, it can be pitch-perfect like those saccharine Hallmark movies while for others, it can be challenging as they face bigotry of some kind as seen in Clea DuVall’s “Happiest Season.” These celebrations can be cheerful or calming, but they can also be messy, much like the chaotic episode from Christopher Storer’s “The Bear,” where egos clash and collide. It makes the family confront each other rather than rejoice. Suffice it to say that such festivals can be dramatic for different reasons.
Tyler Taormina’s presents a heartwarming mix of all these elements. Set in the 2000s, it shows the Balsano family getting together at their ancestral home for Christmas. As different generations get under the same roof, things get loud and visibly messy in the house. The oldest family member sits quietly aside as the younger generation keeps her company. As it happens, the middle-aged parents discuss the middle-aged-people issues. They talk about the responsibility of their old mother and the inability to understand the younger generations. There is a sense of feeling outdated that links them all together.
Some complain about the young people while others embrace their differences and understand what the future holds for them. As the drama unfolds, a few themes become recurringly prominent. One is the pains of aging and the second is the value of togetherness. The elders discuss their intertwined futures while the teenagers leave the house to feel freer through spontaneous actions and chance encounters. A minor act of rebellion, it also allows them to look for the familiar in strangers and find a sense of kinship beyond the known social institutions. A tragedy looms over the house as the adults try to gain control over their lives and reminisce about their unfulfilled hopes and dreams.
In its roughly two-hour duration, “Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point” becomes a lump of their collective energy or underlying sentiments instead of drawn-out studies of its characters. Still, the script is anything but underwritten. We don’t get to witness the lengthier portraits. Yet, it provides enough details about their traits and interests through brief glimpses. It is imbued with the characteristic charm of Christmas films. The cultural stereotypes are done just enough to leave you with its flavor but not an unpleasant aftertaste.
While it finds a footing in familiar themes and dramatic tones, it does not resort to being a sentimental mush. Instead, its sentimentality feels dramatically earned, thanks to the sensible direction that values the importance of tiny gestures that often get ignored as opposed to flashier situations and actions. At times, the film is sonically chaotic owing to its loud characters and big ensemble. Yet, it is surprisingly cohesive as it allows its quieter, contemplative moments to flourish beside the inherently dramatic discussions. With the standout performances by the likes of Maria Dizzia, Ben Shenkman, and Tony Savino, it becomes a captivating mood piece that lingers in your mind long after.
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