Lost at Christmas Re-Watch

One of the great things about Christmas is that every so often a new song, album, TV show or film comes along to become part of your own personal Christmas. This has happened with Lost at Christmas which I first came across on BBC Scotland two years ago. I watched it again last year and thoroughly enjoyed it once again, so this year I took the plunge and bought the DVD. So what is so special about this film as far as I am concerned? Why should you ignore the ridiculously low rating on IMDB? Well, read on.

The Story

In a small Scottish town, two people are making big decisions that will be life changing. Jen is heading there to surprise her boyfriend and Rob is about to propose to his long term girlfriend. Suffice it to say, things do not go to plan and the two find themselves on a station platform, only to find that there is no chance of getting home that way. Jen takes her former boyfriend’s car and the two of them head into some typical Scottish (Christmas movie) weather. Having to stop at a remote inn when their car grinds to a halt, the two, who don’t really understand each other, having to share a room. So far, so predictable, but there’s some twists that really make the film different from a traditional Hallmark style movie.

The Cast

One of the main reasons I first gave this a chance is because of its very strong Doctor Who connection. We have the Seventh Doctor himself, Sylvester McCoy, 60s companion Jamie McCrimmon, Fraser Hines and young Amelia Pond from the new series, Caitlin Blackwood. Add the star power of Gregory’s Girl alumnus and Altered Images lead singer Clare Grogan, and you have a central supporting cast packed with talent. The two main characters, Natalie Clark’s Jen and Kenny Boyle’s Rob are, on the surface a typical rom-com couple with one being a free spirit, or at least trying to be, and the other being an initially taciturn and unhappy man at a crossroads. The way they introduce you to the hidden depths in the characters is part of the charm of this film for me.

My reflections

I have always enjoyed my trips to Scotland and I feel at home in Edinburgh whenever I visit. The Scots seem to have a kindness mixed with a no nonsense attitude and a sense of not suffering fools at all, let alone gladly. As a result, I have always enjoyed films, TV, music and sport from there. To me, Lost at Christmas captures the irreverence and warmth of the people who are often very happy to poke fun at themselves as well as others. It is a film that is a very welcome contrast to the syrupy Christmas movies common at this time of year – not that I am averse to them either! The characters all have their own charm but they are not instantly appealing. You have to get to know them and appreciate them, just as you do people in real life. It makes the film more true to life than most and gives it a welcome edge especially early on. This film will no doubt be on the BBC sometime this month and if you spot it, I really urge you to give it a chance. If you’ve had too much sweetness you will appreciate the occasional tartness of Lost at Christmas.