Merlusse: A Christmas movie that actually feels real

Is this for you?

If you like movies that take their time and don't care about being flashy, you'll probably dig this. It’s a 1935 French film, so if you’re allergic to black and white or subtitles, stay away. But honestly, if you’ve ever felt like the odd kid in the back of the classroom, you should see this. It’s not sappy, even though it’s about Christmas.

The whole thing hangs on this guy, Merlusse. The kids call him that because he looks like a dried cod. He’s got that stern, unblinking stare that makes you want to hide your homework. The kids are stuck at school for the holidays, and you can feel the damp, cold atmosphere of the building through the screen. It’s gray, it’s drafty, and you can almost smell the floor wax.

The pranks are surprisingly nasty. These aren't just cartoon antics; they’re the kind of stuff that leaves a knot in your stomach. Watching them bully him feels uncomfortable, like you’re watching something you shouldn’t be. It reminds me a bit of the heavy, awkward energy in The First Degree, where the silence does all the heavy lifting.

The turning point

Then comes Christmas morning. There’s this one sequence that is just so quiet. It’s not a big, dramatic reveal. It’s just... a change. You realize that Merlusse isn't the monster the kids made him out to be. He’s just a guy with nowhere else to go, and he’s decided to do something small to make the kids' day a little less miserable.

It’s not some grand, sweeping gesture. It’s tiny. It's the kind of thing you might miss if you check your phone for a second. The way he handles the gifts—it’s not flashy, it’s just sad and sweet all at once. My throat got a bit tight, not because of music swelling or anything, but because the camera just lingers on his face for a second too long. You see the cracks in the armor.

• The sound of the boys' shoes on the floorboards is stuck in my head.
• The way the teacher’s desk looks like a fortress.
• The silence of the dormitory at night.

It’s a short film, which is great. It doesn't overstay its welcome. It doesn't try to teach you a big moral lesson about the 'spirit of giving.' It just shows you a few people trapped in a building, and how they manage to survive each other. Sometimes a movie just needs to be honest about how lonely people can be. 🎄

It’s definitely not like The Big Show, where everything is loud and staged. This is just a slice of life, tucked away in a corner of 1930s France. Watch it with a cup of tea. Don't expect a resolution that ties everything up in a bow. It doesn't need one.