The logline for Klaus, Sergio Pablos’ delightfully dark and lovely animated Netflix holiday feature, is: “A simple act of kindness always sparks another, even in a frozen, faraway place.”
It is a fanciful Santa Claus origin story, that is funny and touching, as well as stunningly beautiful, with a visual arc that brilliantly matches the thematic one. And it had me bawling. The plot of a small kindness snowballing until it completely transforms a community may seem fantastic, but this fantasy made that idea feel very real to me.
I suspect the initial darkness might be too much for our sensitive Rey, but most kids and adults will likely find the clever plot and numerous Christmassy gags fun and compelling. Give yourself a little Holly Day present for the soul, and spend a couple hours in Smeerenburg with Klaus
These may be dark times in our world, with Christians behaving like Satanists, and populists acting like fascists, but while a single act of kindness may not be enough to transform our world, it sure couldn’t hurt!
Happy Kindness, &
Happy Holly Days
HOLLY DAYS 