DVD review: The Man Who Invented Christmas

DVD: The Man Who Invented Christmas

Reviewed by: Samantha Keogh

Review made possible by: Empire Entertainment

In 1843 London, author Charles Dickens finds himself in financial trouble after writing three unsuccessful novels in a row.

In dire financial straits and desperate for a hit, Dickens relies on real-life inspiration and his vivid imagination to bring Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim and other classic characters to life in A Christmas Carol, forever changing the holiday season into the celebration known today.

With only six weeks to Christmas, Dickens commits himself to writing and publishing his new work in time for the festive season.

Dickens’ ability to meet this deadline is due in equal parts to two events – his interactions with a servant Tara and a visit to a factory he worked in as a child.

As he begins writing, he interact with and takes direction from the characters in terms of their attitudes, actions and the manner in which they see themselves developing throughout the book.

He also draws inspiration from Tara, a literate servant with a love of books, who convinces him to write the ending to show Scrooge in a gentler, kinder light.

Hearing that Charles intends to let Tiny Tim die, Tara suggests a resolution for Scrooge by having him save Tiny Tim instead – a plot-line which ultimately becomes the very reason for the book’s success.

When he starts to fumble with the direction the ending should take, Dickens visits the blacking factory in which he worked after his family was taken to debtor’s prison.

Returning to the long-abandoned factory, Charles is forced to confront his own insecurities through Scrooge and sees his story should be one of redemption – mirroring Tara’s message.

Racing home from the factory to finish his manuscript he is able to meet his self-imposed deadline and release the book in time for Christmas.

While the movie looks primarily at his working process and the development of the novel, it also delves into his family dynamic when his relationship relationship with his family is increasingly strained as he struggles to finish the book in time.

Through this story-line it also evaluates the manner in which Dickens and his attitude towards various family members evolves for the better.

This movie is essentially the telling of Dickins’ story rather than a remake of A Christmas Carol and is one which will definitely thrill fans of Dickens’ work.

However, if you don’t like his novels, or have never read one, don’t let that stop you watching this delightful film which covers a host of everyday themes masked in a clever script.

I would certainly recommend this film for the whole family although it does come with a parental guidance suggestion for viewers younger than eight.