MO' MOVIES: KLAUS

From 2019-a non-Disney animated feature that offers an alternative origin story of Santa Claus. Set in 19th Century Norway, a rich man fed up with his lazy, spoiled son decides to give him one final chance to redeem himself: become the postman for a very Northern community, post 6,000 letters and he will be allowed to come home. Failing this mission, the son will be cut off forever from the family and fortune. It takes the young man some time but he finally figures out that he has been set up: this community is a slum version of Whoville. There is no joy, in fact most of the residents belong to one of two families who have feuded for ages. Acts of violence are commonplace. There is no school for children and hence the set up: most folks are illiterate so not much letter writing goes on. But, the new postman plugs on and one day, deep in the forest, he encounters an old gentleman, a former toymaker...

Despite not coming from the Disney studios, this film bears the hallmarks of one. The characters are theatrically over the top with easily recognizable archetypes, I guess so many age groups can grasp the plot. Probably most dismaying was the inclusion of some broadwayesque pop song number that also serves as a marketing identifier, one of my major pet peeves with this genre. At least they kept this down to the minimum. I can barely watch some films, like Aladdin, Lion King, where every 20 minutes the characters break into some big song and dance routine. Just effin' shoot me. At least it provides me with a break to go get a refill or take a whizz.

Having grinched about this, I can heartedly effuse about the animation: fabulous. Hand-drawn, the colors they used for the early morning, late afternoon scenes of yellow and lavender are just gorgeous and spot on. We enjoyed how the writers wove in all the Santa's tale basics: how he got his sleigh, reindeer, toy making, flying at night to make deliveries etal.  There are several references to the Dr. Seuss tale as well. We also enjoyed the unusual inclusion of the Saami, the indigenous, reindeer raising people of the far North of Norway. In the end, it's a proper Christmas story, of redemption (available for all), joy and acts of giving, where gifts are sometimes more than simply an item.