Angela's Christmas Movie Review

I live next to a three-year-old who every year when she sees Jesus for the first time in my outdoor nativity she likes to make a run for it.  She makes a straight line towards Jesus’ manger and picks up the babe and then turns to take him home.  However, it’s a little tricky to make a clean run because Jesus is hooked to an electric cord because Jesus lights up at night along with the rest of my decorations. The little girl’s dad usually catches her before she pulls the plug on Jesus and explains that she must just look and not touch.  This year my dad put a small fence more as a joke to try to keep out the small thief.  It wasn’t until I was browsing through the Netflix holiday movie selection that I came across a newly added thirty minute animated film (that is sure to make your heart melt) when I realized that kids stealing Jesus is a common Christmas occurrence.  Just google, “child stealing Jesus,” and your feed will be full of bloopers of children unable to keep their hands off the Christmas babe! 

Now, if you find yourself with half-an-hour to spare or a house full of children that need something to focus on then I recommend that you watch “Angela’s Christmas.”  The short film follows Angela as she mischievously steals baby Jesus from her church’s nativity thinking baby Jesus is cold.  Angela’s only desire is to take Jesus home and wrap him in a blanket so that he won’t be cold or catch his death.  This little action makes for such a warm story of love and of the true meaning of Christmas.  My favorite part is the interaction between Angela and Jesus, the little girl talks to the babe as if he’s made of flesh and bones.  In the same way when her brother discovers what Angela has done he declares, “you must take him back his parents must be terribly worried.”  This innocence is what makes the film so remarkable! 

Though it’s based on a Children’s book and made short enough to keep the attention of little ones the film can still be enjoyed by the whole family.  In thirty minutes little Angela will make one laugh, cry and contemplate having a closer relationship with Christ.  I walked away with a great desire to be able to talk to Jesus with the same trust and innocence of young Angela and most importantly to treat God like He is alive and listening.  Sometimes deep spiritual practices get so convoluted in our minds that it takes a child to break the complexity and show us that prayer is as easy as holding Jesus in your arms desiring to keep him cozy.  Her child imagination also shows us that everyone deserves to be warm and loved during this time of year.  Thus, I recommend this film- two thumbs up- watch it next to a warm chimney with your loved ones if you are blessed with both.