A Storm for Christmas Review: Going Beyond the Stereotypes of The Genre Proposed By American Cinema

Cast: Line Verndal, Valter Skarsgård, Thea Sofie Loch Næss, Ghita Nørby, Oscar Jean, Sus Wilkins, Ibrahim Faal, Ravdeep Sing Bajwa, Talia Lorentzen, Jan Gunnar Røise

Creator: Per-Olav Sørensen

Streaming Platform: Netflix

Filmyhype.com Ratings: 3.5/5 (three stars) [yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

The Christmas period has now arrived and with it also themed films and television series. Thus, among colored candy canes, richly decorated trees, and the ever-present freshly baked cookies, Netflix offers A Storm for Christmas, a miniseries divided into six episodes that, however, offers a different atmosphere from those we are used to.

Made by Per-Olav Sørensen, known for The Quicksand and the recent The Playlist, who largely renounces the romantic and magical notes that characterize American products of this genre so much, to favor a certainly more realistic narration. The starting question is only one: what would you do if on Christmas Eve you found yourself stranded alone in an airport too far from home and your family? The answers may vary. Let’s try to give our review of A Storm for Christmas. The series is available on Netflix from December 16th.

A Storm for Christmas Review: The Story

Christmas Eve is one of the busiest days for departures and arrivals at airports. And if there is also a snowstorm, the situation could become really difficult. This discomfort is experienced by all the passengers who, inside Oslo airport, are forced to remain on the ground waiting for the weather to improve. Delays and cancellations aside, however, this situation does not necessarily turn out to be harmful. Most of them will have the opportunity to partly review their lives, form unexpected relationships and, perhaps, find answers to questions postponed for too long. Thus, this sort of suspended time becomes the right opportunity to slow down, exclude yourself from daily distractions, and finally, find the right rhythm by reconnecting with your life.

We know that winter in Norway is certainly not forgiving. This means that you are prepared for temperatures well below zero and plenty of snow. Despite this, however, one is not always psychologically ready to face the inconveniences of a snowstorm. Especially on Christmas Eve. In fact, for many, this means not being able to reach their families on time or not being on time for work appointments, remaining “prisoners” somewhere. One of these, for example, could be Oslo airport which, after having canceled practically all air traffic due to bad weather, finds itself the scene of the vicissitudes of varied humanity. Among the tables of his restaurants, next to the counters of the bars, in the most exclusive rooms of the lounges, and, finally, among the armchairs next to the closed gates, there are several people whose lives, previously completely unknown, are united by the same temporal suspension.

Some of them cross paths, even if for a short time, others take advantage of this opportunity to reflect on themselves and the course of their relationships with the outside world. A young pop music star in an existential crisis, a couple too busy arguing to notice their daughter’s sadness, a pianist who seems to have lost the magic of music, a Santa Claus disappointed by the consumerist desires of children. And yet a young woman in search of a romantic dream, a disillusioned pilot, a girl grappling with the perfect gift for a mysterious father, and, finally, a jovial and kind man capable of instilling serenity in anyone meets him.

These are just some of the characters who are destined to crowd a common space for twenty-two hours, recreating an emotional microcosm. Thus, while outside the storm is unleashed in all its violence, the airport becomes almost an unreal place, suspended in thin air where everything may seem possible, even sitting down to talk to a stranger and, above all, entertaining oneself in gestures of unexpected kindness.

A Storm for Christmas Review and Analysis

A choice that characterizes the TV series produced by Netflix and, above all, their vision, is the possibility of witnessing the entire evolutionary arc of the story. By making every single episode available, without scheduling the weekly release, it is possible to fully enjoy the narrative potential of a project, without useless interruptions. In this way, even the so-called transitional episodes, i.e. those that may seem less interesting from an evolutionary point of view, find their perfect location within a discourse seen and immediately absorbed in its entirety.

This strategy proves to be positive above all for more intimate projects, just like A Storm for Christmas. In this case, we are faced with a TV series that certainly does not shine for sudden plot twists or well-designed suspense. Its nature, rather, is that of a daily story that, more than anything else, intends to highlight the small, large reactions of men once they are confronted with themselves. This means, therefore, that emotions are the real protagonists of this mini-series. But not the sudden, stormy, or particularly emotional ones. Let’s not forget that we are dealing with a Norwegian production.

A detail that defines not only the general atmosphere of the story but also the style, is certainly made more essential and minimal. Despite this, however, without going to use the easy ploy of emphasis or drama, the story told manages to involve, one step at a time. At the end of the vision of the six episodes, then, it will be discovered that the secret of this particular Christmas story is precisely in the absence of dramatization, much preferring to use the normality of an intimate language in which it is easy and natural to recognize oneself.

One of the most interesting aspects of this series is the theme of travel which is usually always seen from a positive perspective. The holiday, the romantic escape, the return to the origins or one’s family. These are just some of the reasons that are used more as a narrative trick, especially within the Christmas filmography. In this case, however, the director Per-Olav Sørensen attributes a not-always-positive meaning to movement. In fact, for the humanity that photographs, moving is an excuse not to dwell on one’s weaknesses, on hidden thoughts, on the inner voice that one does not want to listen to while making a mistake.

For this reason, therefore, Sørensen opts for a sudden immobility caused, moreover, by an uncontrollable event such as a meteorological one. So what happens if a blizzard forces everyone to stand still for an entire day? This is the essential question that arises and addresses the viewer. The question from which the whole narrative comes to life, and which causes subsequent personal evolutions. For once, therefore, the movement is opposed to immobility, at least physical. But this does not mean that the protagonists do not go on a journey. Rather they embark on an unexpected adventure, a crossing that they would have gladly avoided but in which they find themselves involved without even having understood how.

And the emotional baggage they carry with them is anything but light. They take it on without realizing how heavy it is, they drag it through most of this long wait until, one step at a time, they manage to get rid of everything that is not essential. In other cases, then, unable to avoid the problem, they finally manage to look at it in its entirety, understanding how to deal with it in the best way. And, at the end of this long stormy night, the sky will clear up and everyone will be able to take flight. But none of them will make it as he had planned or towards the intended goal. Because, beyond the Christmas songs, the decorations, and a final hint of romanticism, change is the real protagonist of this series. The one destined to come only if you are willing to stop and listen.

A Storm for Christmas Review: The Last Words

Per-Olav Sørensen creates a miniseries with a Christmas flavor but with a particular personality. Going beyond the stereotypes of the genre proposed by American cinema, he outlines a more minimal story from an expressive point of view but no less important or engaging. Indeed, the Nordic narrative essentiality finds the right compromise with the emotions and atmospheres typical of the period for a journey into human weaknesses.