That Christmas (dir. Simon Otto)
By: Adam Freed
If Santa is to stay true to his annual goal of visiting all of the world’s children in a single night, then no place, no matter how small, may be forgotten. This is particularly fortunate for the tiny British town of Wellington-on-Sea, a quaint communal dwelling with a deeply rooted connection to its ever-churning saltwater neighbor. Centered around its lighthouse, the literal beacon of its small economy, Wellington-on-Sea is a community of families molded by the adage that in difficult times, one must “Keep Calm and Carry On.” This long echoed cry of British steadfastness is put to the test for young Danny Williams, a child of divorce, spending his first Christmas without the comfort of his nuclear family. Complicating matters is that a holiday blizzard forces the town, and Danny’s holiday expectations, into a tailspin. Love Actually (2003) writer Richard Curtis and director Simon Otto team to present the wonderfully heartfilled Netflix animated holiday story That Christmas.
Animated Christmas films tend to bake from a conventionally approved list of ingredients, and while That Christmas isn’t completely free of a few traditional tropes, it is framed with such a unique perspective that one cannot help but feel a sense of growing warmth and connection to the film as its events unfold. Narrated by the unmistakable voice of Brian Cox (Succession), That Christmas plays out far better as a small town drama pursuant to the Christmas spirit, than it does a traditional Santa-centered tale. The film’s most poignant moments occur in the unearthing of life’s genuine scars that have impacted the small community’s various inhabitants. In particular, the story of icy school headmistress Ms. Trapper (Fiona Shaw) is an apex example of dynamic character building within the constraints of animated storytelling. As Danny Williams is forced to mature emotionally in the wake of heartbreaking circumstances, his relationship with Ms. Trapper evolves into one that reflects a selfless optimism to which all should aspire in the holiday season. Otto’s film isn’t really about Christmas as much as it is a study of the human need for compassion and connection in the wake of traumatic events. As a character study on empathy, this animated holiday treasure may be the best that streaming has to offer in 2024.
Target Score: 8/10 Christmas Cookies - Ironically, That Christmas is at its very best when it keeps an omniscient Santa Clause at a narrator’s distance, overseeing the ongoings of the charming community of Wellington-on-Sea. While the various obstacles that prevent the townsfolk from enjoying their traditional holiday risk contrivance, the unmistakable need for human decency and compassion drive the beautifully animated holiday film to laudable heights.