The guardian | 13:00 09-12-2025 | Lifestyle
Charles Poekel's first film as a director, which took a decade to reach UK screens, offers an unorthodox take on seasonal cinema characterized by understated warmth. First launched in the U.S. in 2015, this extremely low-budget film is primarily set at a 24-hour makeshift Christmas tree booth. Poekel's approach is authentically independent, steering clear of the maudlin or overly sentimental common with Christmas-themed movies.
Kentucker Audley stars as Noel, a Christmas tree vendor in Brooklyn. This is Noel's fifth year braving the freezing weather to sell Christmas trees and passing the night in a barely warm caravan, parked beside his goods. The absence of the girl who previously worked with him does not go unnoticed; several customers inquire about her.
This year, however, sees Noel working solo for his shift at the holiday stall, nursing a broken heart. A distinct documentary-like atmosphere pervades many scenes, often filled with customers' irrelevant, spontaneous inquiries – one woman, for instance, wanting the same Christmas tree the Obamas had in 2014. While Noel appears emotionally and physically weary and disenchanted, Audley's nuanced portrayal indicates that the character was not always like this, adding depth and realism to the overall story.
Though unconventional is its approach, the movie, with its raw indie charm and the lightness with which it delivers its story, provides just the right amount of holiday warmth. Poekel's ingenious conducting of the film maintains an authentic feel with an underlying endearing simplicity that viewers will certainly appreciate.