Written by Melanie Carden
Restorative Sentiment of Interconnectedness
Tears welled in my eyes as I drove home—I was so overcome with nostalgia. The song “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” came on the radio while driving back from an essentials supply run at the grocery store. Pre-COVID-19, I was fortunate enough to focus mostly on the lyric about going home—never making much emotional connection to the phrase “if only in my dreams.” Today, though, it hit hard like a lump of coal stuck in my throat.
Nostalgia in Holiday Cinema
An emotional tool, nostalgia helps satiate our need for belonging, especially in times of separation (I’m lookin’ at you, coronavirus). Christmas has called upon this human inclination since the 1880s when people began sending illustrated holiday cards to loved ones. Fast forward to the modern-day, and you’ll find that same amalgam of imagery and nostalgia in an endless array of holiday films.
Nostalgia was originally a medical diagnosis addressing a sadness one feels when they have “recurrent thoughts and memories of home”—a type of desperate homesickness. Nowadays, nostalgia captures a sentiment—a feeling we get when reflecting on our most idyllic memories. If you think about something that makes you feel nostalgic, you’ll realize it usually involves other people. Weddings, celebratory gatherings, special dates, ceremonies, vacations, team-based sports, and holidays—nostalgia catalogs the significant events of togetherness in our lives. In the context of COVID-19 and as the winter holidays near, togetherness seems a comforting ghost of days of yore.
Much like the current pandemic, World War II left entire countries grappling with separation during the years of war and destruction. When soldiers returned home to the United States, the country let out a collective sigh, and life started to move forward again. This momentum generated many of the most iconic Christmas movies in history—nostalgia the driving force.
Still shot from the 1947 film classic It’s A Wonderful Life.
In 1947, just two years after the war ended, Hollywood produced—not only one—but two of the most timeless holiday classics—It’s a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street. In It’s a Wonderful Life, our beloved protagonist “is George Bailey—a goodhearted soul who questions if his existence in this world matters. Through the angel Clarence’s help, George can see how grim the world would be without him. He sees how his actions, large and small, have a ripple effect on friends, family, and community. The post-war film uses the restorative power of nostalgia with unparalleled elegance and precision.
Themes of trying to go home (or get to a loved one) and exploring the larger human question of “ How are our lives connected?” is as prevalent in holiday movies as it is in the pandemic news headlines. On the verge of suicide, George Bailey is certain he’s of no value to others—but Clarence proves his intentions and actions are vitally interconnected with the lives of others.
Pick up a newspaper or scroll your social media feeds, and you’ll see that same ripple effect is mirrored in reminders to social distance, wear masks, and take care of our communities. We feel isolated and, at times, hopeless. Nostalgia helps us remain connected as we visit with loved ones by Zoom and phone (hint: it’s that seldom-used feature on your mobile device). Our favorite holiday films are a super-concentrated dose of nostalgia—and it’s just what we need as we ride out the wait for the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine.
2020 Holiday Movies
A quick Google search will yield more listicles of holiday movies than anyone can consume in one season. But, if there were ever a year to give it a go—surely, it’s this year. Grab your hot chocolate and get ready to garnish the whipped cream with a heavy-handed sprinkle of good ol’, time-tested nostalgia.
Even in a year of limited face-to-face production time, plenty of new holiday movies are here to brighten the season. Netflix is offering Holidate (A rom-Com with the lovable Emma Roberts), Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (A classic Someone-must-save-Christmas” tale with original music from John Legend), The Princess Switch: Switched Again (sequel with fan-favorite Vanessa Hudgens), Dolly Parton’s Christmas On The Square (it’s music goddess Dolly Parton; said), The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two (Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn as Mr. and Mrs. Claus), and finally, Angela’s Christmas Wish (gorgeously animated story). Though Lifetime, BET, OWN, Hulu, and UPTV are all offering a very respectable list of new films, the reigning champion in nostalgia—Hallmark—is gifting us with 40 brand-new sparkling holiday gems.
Movie poster for the Netflix holiday film Holidate.
The Greatest Generation Presents: Nostalgic Holiday Classics
Often referred to as “the greatest generation,” the folks that rallied together—even while separated by WWII—created some of our most celebrated holiday film classics. They created tales of going home, love, and winter magic, you’ll also see themes of ghosts and angels schooling us in the wisdom and interconnectedness of the past, present, and future. They knew full well that we need to take care of one another and look to the future. They also feature some of the greatest holiday music of all time. It’s the perfect fit for the COVID-winter holidays.
- A Christmas Carol (1938)
- Remember the Night (1940)
- Holiday Inn (1942, trigger warning: use of black face)
- Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
- Christmas in Connecticut (1945)
- The Bishop’s Wife (1947)
- It’s A Wonderful Life (1947)
- Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
- Holiday Affair (1949)
- A Christmas Carol (1951, second rendition starring the renowned Alastair Sim as Scrooge)
A Filmology Tasting Menu—Holiday Treats for the Soul
From animation and anime to comedic genius, this list has something for everyone. Curl up with a modern-day classic or dabble in something new. If you don’t know Emmet Otter, brought to life by legend Jim Henson, get ready to be his number one holiday groupie—mosh pit optional.
- A Christmas Story (1983)
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
- Yeh Jeewani Hai Deewani (2013)
- A Madea Christmas (2013)
- The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
- Woojoo’s Christmas (2016)
- Elf (2003)
- Last Holiday (2006)
- Tokyo Godfathers (2003, Japanese anime)
- The Holiday (2006)
- A Diva’s Christmas (2009)
- Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas (1977)
- Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987)
- The Tower (2012)
- The Snowman (1982)
- A Child’s Christmas in Wales (1987)