J'ai Rencontré Le Père Noël

J'ai rencontré le Père Noël (English: I Met Father Christmas) is a 1984 French science fiction fantasy film directed by Christian Gion and co-written with Didier Kaminka. It was dubbed in English by New World Pictures and retitled as Here Comes Santa Claus and released on DVD under the title I Believe in Santa Claus.[1]

J'ai Rencontré Le Père Noël
(aka I Believe in Santa Claus,
Here Comes Santa Claus)
Directed byChristian Gion
Produced byPatrick Delauneux
Written by
  • Christian Gion
  • Didier Kaminka
Starring
Music byFrancis Lai
CinematographyJacques Assuérus
Edited byPauline Leroy
Release date
  • 5 December 1984 (1984-12-05)
Running time
78 minutes
CountryFrance
Language
  • French
  • English
  • Danish

The film stars Karen Cheryl, who was a popular singer at the time in France, as both Simon's schoolteacher and as the Fairy. She acts and sings musical numbers in the film. Clearly designed for children, the film was primarily meant as a family comedy for the Christmas holidays. It is an opportunity for Cheryl to repeatedly sing simplistic melodies, in line with the plot.

The movie was re-released as Video On Demand title with and without comedic commentary by Rifftrax, the alumni project of former Mystery Science Theater 3000 members Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett.[2] [3]

Plot

Simon is a young boy, bullied at school by peers and adults alike. His parents have been kidnapped in Africa, and the government has not responded to the ultimatum set by the kidnappers. Therefore, while on a field trip to the local airport, Simon and his friend Élodie sneak onto a jet liner and fly to Rovaniemi to visit Santa Claus in Lapland, to ask him to save Simon's parents. On the way, they encounter a fairy and an ogre.

The two children arrive safely to travel to Lapland then Santa and the fairy teleport to Africa near the village where the parents are inmates, and finally the two children returned home and rushed to the Christmas Mass where no one seems really surprised they reappear after their prolonged absence.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was released on LP (WEA 74320 06). The music is composed by Francis Lai, with lyrics by Pierre-Andre Dousset.

Track Listing:

  1. Générique
  2. On s'prépare pour Noël
  3. L'Arrivée à Rovaniemi
  4. Oui, le Père Noël existe
  5. La Classe
  6. P'Tit Pomme sur le Pommier
  7. Noël en Laponie
  8. L'Usine à Jouets
  9. Ballade pour une Fée
  10. La Recherche en Afrique
  11. Lutins, Trains, Vilains
  12. Noël, un Enfant
  13. Générique de Fin

References
  1. J'ai rencontré le Père Noël at IMDb
  2. "I Believe in Santa Claus". Rifftrax.com. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  3. "I Believe in Santa Claus (UnRiffed)". Rifftrax.com. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
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