Joyeux Noel captures a rare moment of grace from one of the worst wars in the history of mankind; World War I. On Christmas Eve; 1914; as German; French; and Scottish regiments face each other from their respective trenches; a musical call-and-response turns into an impromptu cease-fire; trading chocolates and champagne; playing soccer; and comparing pictures of their wives. But when Christmas ends; the war returns...Joyeux Noel has been justly accused of sentimentality; but if any subject warrants such an earnest and hopeful treatment; it's the horrors of trench warfare. The largely unknown cast--the more familiar faces include Diane Kruger (Troy); Daniel Bruhl (Good Bye Lenin!); Benno Furmann (The Princess and the Warrior); and Gary Lewis (Billy Elliot)--deliver low-key but effective performances as the movie dwells on the everyday elements of life in the face of war. Based on a true incident (though considerably fictionalized). --Bret Fetzer

Stills from Joyeux Noel (click for larger image)