When it comes to Christmas films many are packed with elements of fantasy. Reasonings for how Santa achieves his annual worldwide delivery, and keeps the North Pole hidden, introduce sci-fi leanings with increasingly futuristic ideas. Delving into imagination has long been a big part of many fictional festive films, no matter what genre. However, this year’s Alternative Christmas Film Advent Calendar switches focus to look at documentaries which follow real world Christmas stories and figures, each with their own strand of imagination, festive spirit and occasional fantasy.
What does it take to be Santa? An endless stomach? An extremely dedicated workforce? Do you have to know what song each person sung to you on your birthday? Do you have to not smell like beef and cheese? How do you avoid sitting on a throne of lies? At least some of these questions are asked in Becoming Santa as Jack Sanderson heads to Santa School in order to do just this.
After losing both of his parents and preparing to spend Christmas alone Jack decides to dye his hair white, buy a red suit and get ready to play Santa throughout the festive season. From making his way through a train full of children waiting to see him to pulling off some last-minute Christmas Eve visits Jack throws himself into each aspect of the role, no matter how tiring it may become. At Santa School he’s taught all the words he can’t say, the answers he should give that keeps the magic alive for children who see and visit him while not making direct promises for certain things – such as killing whoever the US government is after, ‘you’re Santa, you know where everyone is, you can do anything’.
Yet, while being worn down and tired out Jack still remains largely positive about what he’s doing, and the effect that it’s having. He sees the joy that him as Santa brings to not just children but their families, too. He observes early on that the pictures that are being taken, particularly with very young children who may be meeting Santa for the first time, are likely to be displayed and kept as memories; he’s a part of their lives and memories for now. It’s an emotional thought for him and makes the experience, one which he treats with positivity and seriousness. While saying throughout that the period the documentary covers will be the only year he does this there’s a hint every now and then that he may throw his red and white cap into the ring again after the personal effect that the experience has had on him.
It’s something you can see grow and develop as he enters the world of Santa with anticipation and a smile on his face which he maintains throughout. Seeing Christmas from another, or perhaps long unseen, perspective and embracing it wholeheartedly. Demonstrating a catching warmth as he fully commits to the part both feeling and emitting Santa.
Becoming Santa can be watched in the following places:
Amazon
Plex
To see if the film is available to buy, rent or stream on any other platforms, particularly in another part of the world, then JustWatch should have a list of most places.
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