Austin Film Festival Movie Review: ‘Christmess’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

(L-R) Steve Le Marquand, Darren Gilshenan, and Hannah Joy as Steve Flint, Nick and Joy in Heath Davis’ CHRISTMESS.

We are taught to believe from a supremely young age, that the holiday season is truly a magical time. A time when everything is just better and wholesome, simply because this is when humanity puts its differences aside and embraces unity and forgiveness. Something that is backed up by the joy of the season and the wonder and majesty of its bright lights and warm drinks and saccharine songs, and the happiness we feel in our hearts. Which can be so strong, that it does bring out great traits in us. To the point where we also follow the mantra of the season and give a little more, and well… that feeling is so powerful, that it leaves us wondering, after the season, exactly why such goodwill doesn’t last beyond the 25th of December and empower the world to be better. 
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But that’s the thing. It doesn’t last because what we believe … is a construct. A fantasy world that helps us escape the realities of the world for a little while to clear our heads, which allows for us to unfortunately forget, that the world doesn’t stop turning while Santa checks his list twice. Real problems persist, real struggles take place and that is something we need to talk about more often. Because to do so, would allow for us to appreciate the season differently and offer the right kind of gifts to those in need. But thankfully there are people out there now, looking to change the narrative regarding the season, and we are seeing creatives lead the charge in such matters. And it just so happens that a film that recently screened at the Austin Film Festival, from writer/director Heath Davis, offers that objective look at the season, and that makes Christmess, quite the important watch. 

For this is a story that introduces us to a now-former star named Chris Flint who is at quite a crossroads in his life, in the middle of the holiday season. For Chris just received his release from rehab and now he is tasked with starting over in life. A mission that seems impossible in many ways. In part because, everyone expects him to be so cheery and thankfully during the season. But Chris lost everything during his alcohol and drug fueled downward spiral and living in a halfway house with a couple of other people named Nick and Joy when he used to enjoy penthouse suites, is quite the adjustment for him. But it is the right one, because Nick and Joy offer him support and care and they go the extra mile to help him begin to rebuild his life and inadvertently help him find focus. For his decision to take a job as a Rent-A-Santa for the season, will reconnect Chris with an important person from his past that he needs to reconcile with, and he knows doing so… will give him the clarity and strength he needs to leave his addiction behind, and the peace he so desperately needs.

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Which is a plot, that is unlike any other holiday story out there. But it is grounded in reality. Because Chris’ struggles here, happen every holiday season. They’re just ignored and forgotten by the Christmas cheer that everyone is expected to take part in, but not everyone can. Because they’re grieving the loss of a loved one or because they’re in recovery and fighting to stay on the narrow path and get better. Which brings forth some powerful and visceral moments in this story. The kind that really showcase the true realities of the season and how hard it is for people in Chris’ shoes to recover at a time when everyone thinks you can just pick yourself up and smile with glee because soon presents from Santa will be under the Christmas tree.

But the wonder of this story doesn’t end by simply removing the sweet stigma of the season, it also presents to us… a powerful journey for Chris. One that showcases the ravages of addiction and what it can do to people and how hard it is for someone to leave the substances they love behind in the early days of their recovery. Because addiction is a genuine monster, one that requires so much work beyond twelve steps, and this movie deserves a hard round of applause for showcasing that reality and for also… offering us some good vibes in this tale as well. For this is a story that could have gone down a dark and bleak path from beginning to end, but instead… opts to really look at the meaning of the holiday season in a different light, and how we find hope within it when we’re clawing our way back to the top. 

All by reminding us of the fact… that the real meaning of the Holiday season isn’t the gifts we give but celebrating the gifts we’ve been given. Such as being granted a second chance when we’ve made mistakes and being surrounded by wondrous people that help us heal, and it is those gifts that provide the hope in question. Since they lift us up and help us believe we can do anything and all of those elements, bring forth a beautiful and powerful film. One that truly examines the wonder and the folly of our humanity and how every bit of it is special in its own way. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that the movie features some phenomenal performances to compliment fine writing, that offers magnificent clarity and honesty about a season we sometimes cherish for the wrong reasons, and what we lose sight of in doing so.

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