An aging and recent widower, not wanting to spend his first Christmas alone, responds to an ad in the newspaper which reads: "You are not alone. We make social arrangements of all kinds." When he visits the Social Arranger, he makes it very clear his only interest is in "social company" and is subsequently introduced to a woman who agrees to spend the holiday with him. The woman bids him to not ask any questions about her personal life, which harbors a secret that threatens their developing friendship, and could ultimately change both their lives.
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This short drama was satisfying to watch even though there wasn't much action. It was almost like a two-person play. Get yourself a cup of hot chocolate, relax and enjoy.It is a surprisingly good drama for a lazy, frosty, Christmas-season evening. It's well-acted, well-written, and well-crafted -- definitely sentimental, but without being fluffy or soppy. The cast is led by veteran acting greats Jason Robards and Julie Harris, which in itself should make the movie worth a consideration. Robards portrays John Tanner, a recent widower (10 months) who doesn't quite know what to do with the changes imposed upon his life. He spends Thanksgiving in a diner, reading a book, and when the annual family trip to the cabin for Christmas is jeopardized (his son and family want them to visit their house), he attempts to rescue his traditions in a radical way: he finds an escort service, makes it very clear that there will be separate bedrooms, and "hires" a woman to be his companion and spend the Christmas weekend with him. Julie Harris is the sad, perceptive, and mysterious woman, Iris, who agrees to be his "Christmas wife" - but does not want any questions asked about herself.Tanner turns out to be quite hospitable. He cooks (a candlelight dinner, nevertheless), trims a tree, and even brings a gift for his new friend, and himself, to exchange on Christmas day. It's sad that he doesn't believe in an afterlife, as the Lord Jesus Christ, the God of all comfort, died for our sins, was buried, and rose again so we could have forgiveness of sins, an eternal home in heaven, a taste of Heaven on this earth, and help for all of our problems.This is a quality "G" movie. I enjoyed watching it with my wife (you never know how long you'll have them), and she thought it was good. Adults who have some experience with age or loneliness may discover a tale striking quite a responsive chord.
I enjoyed this movie and thought it was artfully done, and very poignant. It was a definite "chick flick". Sadly for me, the CD, which I checked out at the local library, had a flaw in it right at the critical moment which lead up to the "secret". I could not get it to play and I had to skip to the ending. It stopped right as Iris was going to tell her secret. Please, someone let me know what that secret was. I missed all of the scene from where she was pouring him coffee and onwards. The next scene I saw was when he dropped her off at the bus stop. I would really like to know what her secret was!! I can imagine all sorts of things, but my suspicion is that she was married.
I saw this movie last night on WhiteSprings TV. They play many old old made for TV specials. This movie seems like a play on a stage. It is warm and cute, with many warm moments to make a warm smile come to you face. The movie is all about letting go and Iris teaching John how to do this. It is a story of two people not getting what they expected but getting something even deeper in return. I don't think the secret of Iris ruins the movie in the end but rather teaches a lesson that we don't always get what we expect. Her secret also teaches John how to open up and let go and in the end move on with his life towards other horizons .Julie Haris is an absolute angel. This is not a fast paced movie, but rather slow and reserved and not depressing at all.
Jason Robards is John, a widower of only 10 months who doesn't want to spend Christmas alone. He gets a call from his grown son Jim, who tells him that his family isn't going to bother flying up to spend Christmas with him at his cabin in the woods. However, they would like for John to fly down and spend the holiday season with them.I dunno. It sounds reasonable to me. Jim doesn't want to pay for four plane tickets to spend Christmas moping around a cabin thinking about his deceased mom.John, however, decides that he doesn't want to see his son and grandchildren for Christmas. He thinks it's a better idea to go to an agency which organizes "social encounters" between people. (Chuckle...chuckle) Well, anyways...he pays $500 to have a somber woman named Iris (Julie Harris) go with him to his cabin for Christmas.The acting from both Robards and Harris is professional, as you might expect. I just could never fully enjoy this movie because it all seemed so strange and inappropriate. There is only one touching moment in the film (which I won't spoil). The awkward secret which Iris has been hiding during her cabin adventure only makes the film all the more disappointing. 3/10