Silent Night (2002 film)
Encyclopedia
Silent Night is a fact-based 2002 television film set on Christmas Eve
in 1944, during World War II
.
mother (Linda Hamilton
), who had already lost her eldest son in the Battle of Stalingrad
and whose husband is a cook serving in the German army, and her son are seeking refuge in a cabin near the front lines in the Ardennes
forests region of western Europe
. They are invaded by three American
soldiers and then soon after three German soldiers, and after much resistance the mother manages to convince the enemy soldiers to put aside their differences for one night and share a Christmas dinner. The Germans were planning to kill the Americans, but eventually they and the American soldiers shared their rations to make a proper Christmas dinner. This included homemade cookies and other goodies. Throughout the night the Americans and Germans befriend each other despite the fact that they will eventually have to return to the war. The next morning an American MP soldier comes and is surprised by what he sees. As he learns of what has happened he turns his rifle on the American soldiers and begins talking with the Germans. Realizing he is really a German soldier who has infiltrated the American lines, the Americans surrender and the three German soldiers get their weapons. The German then orders the three other soldiers to execute the Americans. Just before he is about to shoot the mother, one of the German soldiers knocks him out, saving her. The soldiers depart with the Americans taking the German infiltrater as a prisoner of war, as well as one of the Germans, as he is only 14 and neither side wants him to die in a future battle, and the Germans return to their side. They say good bye and wish each other good luck for the rest of the war.
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
in 1944, during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Plot
A GermanGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
mother (Linda Hamilton
Linda Hamilton
Linda Carroll Hamilton is an American actress best known for her portrayal of Sarah Connor in The Terminator and its sequel Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Catherine Chandler in the television series Beauty and the Beast, for which she was nominated for two Golden Globes and an Emmy...
), who had already lost her eldest son in the Battle of Stalingrad
Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad was a major battle of World War II in which Nazi Germany and its allies fought the Soviet Union for control of the city of Stalingrad in southwestern Russia. The battle took place between 23 August 1942 and 2 February 1943...
and whose husband is a cook serving in the German army, and her son are seeking refuge in a cabin near the front lines in the Ardennes
Ardennes
The Ardennes is a region of extensive forests, rolling hills and ridges formed within the Givetian Ardennes mountain range, primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg, but stretching into France , and geologically into the Eifel...
forests region of western Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. They are invaded by three American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soldiers and then soon after three German soldiers, and after much resistance the mother manages to convince the enemy soldiers to put aside their differences for one night and share a Christmas dinner. The Germans were planning to kill the Americans, but eventually they and the American soldiers shared their rations to make a proper Christmas dinner. This included homemade cookies and other goodies. Throughout the night the Americans and Germans befriend each other despite the fact that they will eventually have to return to the war. The next morning an American MP soldier comes and is surprised by what he sees. As he learns of what has happened he turns his rifle on the American soldiers and begins talking with the Germans. Realizing he is really a German soldier who has infiltrated the American lines, the Americans surrender and the three German soldiers get their weapons. The German then orders the three other soldiers to execute the Americans. Just before he is about to shoot the mother, one of the German soldiers knocks him out, saving her. The soldiers depart with the Americans taking the German infiltrater as a prisoner of war, as well as one of the Germans, as he is only 14 and neither side wants him to die in a future battle, and the Germans return to their side. They say good bye and wish each other good luck for the rest of the war.
Cast
- Linda HamiltonLinda HamiltonLinda Carroll Hamilton is an American actress best known for her portrayal of Sarah Connor in The Terminator and its sequel Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Catherine Chandler in the television series Beauty and the Beast, for which she was nominated for two Golden Globes and an Emmy...
as Elisabeth Vincken - Matthew Harbour as Fritz Vincken
- Romano OrzariRomano OrzariRomano Orzari is a Canadian actor. He has appeared in TV shows such as Bugs, Mutant X, Durham County, and Banshee and has appeared in films such as Punisher: War Zone, Immortals, The Last Hit Man, and One Way Out....
as Pvt. Jimmy Rassi - Alain Goulem as Sgt. Ralph Blank
- Michael Elkin as Pvt. Herbie Ridgin
- Martin Neufeld as Lt. Hans Klosterman
- Mark Anthony Krupa as Sgt. Marcus Mueller
- James McGowan as Capt. Dietrich
- Casian Bopp as Pvt. Peter Heinrich
Award nominations
Silent Night was nominated for four Gemini Awards in 2003:- Best Direction in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series: Rodney Gibbons
- Best Original Music Score for a Program or Mini-Series: James GelfandJames GelfandJames Gelfand, is a Canadian jazz pianist, arranger, and composer. He is best known for his film and television scores.-Early life:...
- Best Photography in a Dramatic Program or Series: Eric Cayla
- Best Sound in a Dramatic Program: Scott Donald, Richard Betanzos, Véronique Gabillaud, David Gertsman, Michael Gurman, Paul Hubert
Source
- The true story on which the film is based, interview with Fritz Vincken, February 1997.