Christmas Story parents guide

Christmas Story Parent Guide

This beautifully crafted tale of the origin of Saint Nicholas is sure to warm the spirits of those lucky enough to find this Finnish movie.

Overall A-

Christmas Story is about a young orphan who grows up to become the legendary Saint Nicholas. This Finnish film, produced in 2007, has now been dubbed into English so North American audiences may also enjoy the holiday movie.

Release date November 16, 2007

Violence B
Sexual Content A
Profanity A
Substance Use B

Why is Christmas Story rated PG? The MPAA rated Christmas Story PG for mild thematic elements and brief smoking.

Run Time: 83 minutes

Official Movie Site

Parent Movie Review

The saying, “It takes a whole village to raise a child,” was never truer than in this Christmas Story about a young boy named Nikolas (Jonas Rinne at age 7 and Otto Gustavsson at age 14).

When his parents and sister tragically die, the community where the orphan lives tries to find a suitable home for the youngster. Unfortunately, the poor fishermen in the frozen town have barely enough to feed themselves, let alone an extra mouth. The best solution they can come up with is taking turns caring for the child. And so it is decided Nikolas will stay one year with each family, moving to his new home on Christmas Day. The system works quite well, and the thankful tike expresses his appreciation by making, and then anonymously giving, small wooden toys for all of his adopted siblings.

Then comes a season went the fishing fails and the small Finnish settlement faces the possibility of famine. Unsure what to do with Nikolas, the desperate citizens reluctantly agree to send him with a travelling merchant who wants an apprentice in his carpentry shop. But the biggest problem with Iisakki’s (played by Kari Väänänen, and voiced in English by John Turturro) offer is the man has a wicked temper and often threatens to drown the homeless lad (who isn’t convinced he’s joking). With no other options, the boy climes aboard the sleigh and heads off to start a new life.

Over the years as Nikolas grows (now played by Hannu-Pekka Björkman with the English voice of Noah Emmerich), both his size and woodworking skills increase. Yet each Christmas, he still makes a pilgrimage back to village of his youth to distribute toys to the little ones. While Iisakki is at first gruff and annoyed by this sentimentalism, it doesn’t take long for his cold heart to melt.

This beautifully crafted tale of the origin of Saint Nicholas is also sure to warm the spirits of those lucky enough to find this movie. Made in Finland, then dubbed in English for North American audiences, this Scandinavian look at the legendary man in red is a real Christmas treat.

Directed by Juha Wuolijoki. Starring Hannu-Pekka Björkman, Otto Gustavsson, Jonas Rinne . Running time: 83 minutes. Theatrical release November 16, 2007. Updated

Christmas Story
Rating & Content Info

Why is Christmas Story rated PG? Christmas Story is rated PG by the MPAA for mild thematic elements and brief smoking.

This Laplander tale about the child who will eventually become the legendary Saint Nick includes the tragic death of the young boy’s parents and baby sister. Although their death is not seen, the child is told his family members fell through the ice and were drowned. A mean-spirited man suggests drowning a child, physically cuffs a youngster and forces him to do manual labor. A small girl is lost during a snowstorm and feared dead. A man is knocked over while trying to train reindeer to pull a sleigh. Smoking is depicted.

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Christmas Story Parents' Guide

What are some of the reasons Iisakki is so mean to young Nikolas? How does the young boy respond to this unkind treatment? How does his reaction affect the old man? What can you learn from his approach?

Although counties all over the world celebrate Christmas, each has their own stories and traditions. What are yours? How are they similar or different from the tale presented here?

News About "Christmas Story"

This movie's original Finnish title was Joulutarina.

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Christmas Story movie is November 3, 2009. Here are some details…

Release Date: 3 November 2009

Christmas Story (Originally titled Joulutarina in Finnish) has been released through Anchor Bay Entertainment with a dubbed English language track on 3 November 2009.

Related home video titles:

Many filmmakers have told stories about the origins of Santa Claus, like Santa Claus: The Movie and The Santa Clause.