Let's assume that even Santa Claus was born some day in the past. That he was a small boy that grew up to be the mythical figure of legends and bedtime stories. What would he have been like, as a boy, as a man starting the Christmas tradition of giving gifts, as an old, bearded man driving reindeer sled? Well, if that has aroused your interest, then this is the movie for you.Filmed mainly in Finnish Lapland, it's a beautiful film to behold. The rural, medieval fishing village offers a breathtaking setting for young Nikolas' beginnings and the bleak winter grandeur of Lapland practically screams Christmas at you. The music is also the very best Finland has to offer and as a whole you can find no fault in the production values or the technical aspects.The acting is also topnotch. I especially love Kari Väänänen as Iisakki, the aging carpenter who takes Nikolas under his wing and makes him the toymaker the world knows him as. Such a perfect blend of curmudgeon and grumpy warmheartedness. The rest of the actors are equally talented and they really sell the whole premise.With the sole exception of Hannu-Pekka Björkman, playing the role of adult Nikolas, that of Santa Claus. He's a good actor, don't get me wrong, and it's really the script's fault instead of his, but his take on Santa Claus is way over the top. And yes, it's a more realistic take on Santa's origins, but did they really need to make him so unhinged. The only reason this Santa wasn't locked in a looney bin was that they hadn't been invented yet. And no, that doesn't ruin the film and it's really just a pet peeve of mine, but I prefer my Santas to be a lot more dignified than this.As a whole Christmas Story has potential to become a classic. It practically is one already in Finland where it is shown every Christmas Eve as the main movie of the night. That's how good it is.

Once upon the time the seven year-old Nikolas loses his parent and his little sister Anna in an accident in the frozen lake. The poor villagers decide to adopt the boy sharing him among the six families: every Christmas Nikolas should move to another home. After six years, the families do not find fish and none of them is able to stay with Nikolas for the next year.The grumpy carpenter Iisakki offers to the villagers to stay with Nikolas and teach him a profession. In the beginning, Nikolas is treated roughly by Iisakki; however, Nikolas makes toys for the children in his village during the nights. When Iisakki discovers what Nikolas is doing, he helps him to make the toys. In the Christmas, Iisakki helps him to distribute the gifts. Year after year, Nikolas and Iisakki continue the tradition.When Iisakki's estranged sons visit and invite their father to move to the big city to live with them, Iisakki delivers a small fortune to him. Nikolas uses the money to follow the tradition of giving a gift to every child on Christmas.The Finish "Joulutarina" is one of the best Christmas movies I have ever seen, showing the wonderful story of Santa Claus. I regret that only today I have found this film and not in the Christmas Eve to see with the whole family together. Unfortunately the Brazilian DVD is dubbed in Portuguese and does not offer the original language. My vote is eight.Title (Brazil): "Uma História de Natal" ("A Christmas Story")

This film is one mixed bag. Technically it couldn't be any better. The cinematography by Mika Orasmaa is masterful and the soundtrack by Leri Leskinen does not fall short of the visuals. The Lappish scenery is magnificent and the movie props and costumes create a remarkably romantic and fairy tale-like atmosphere without losing a sense of reality. I was captivated by the execution of the film.That being said, the acting is highly inconsistent - at best great (Kari Väänänen) and at worst performed by a former Finnish idols runner-up, Antti Tuisku (you can't make that up). This may or may not be a problem with the dubbed English version, but it sure as hell stands out like a sore thumb in the Finnish-spoken original here and there. The dialogue, it must be said, at times makes George Lucas seem like a pretty decent screenwriter.As for the story, it may not be for everyone. There are scenes that border the questionable for a children's' movie about Santa, although certainly none of them spoil the film (or Christmas for that matter). It's not a sugar-coated Disney flick, but it's also neither depressing nor without humor or joy. Bottom line, all's well that ends well.

OK, so the scenery was great and the photography nice, but that's not why I rented this DVD. I wanted to see a nice heartwarming Christmas story. This was not what I considered to be a good "family" picture. It is dark and depressing at parts. I'm sure the translation loses something and the way people see "Santa" is different overseas.In the Netherlands they have an assistant to Saint Nick that frightens bad children, so not every culture is the same. Parts of the English dubbing were so poor the characters simply grumbled or made noises to cover lip movement of the original Finnish.But, taking all the high points and low points together about this film I would still not recommend it for American kids under 10.Obviously I did not enjoy this dark and poorly told story of Finnish/Lapland Santa Clause. I don't think most Americans will relate to the story.