Sagan om Karl-Bertil Jonssons julafton

"Sagan om Karl Bertil Jonssons julafton" might be the cutest Swedish movie of all times. It's about Karl Bertil, the son of a very rich man, who steals Christmas presents from the rich and give them to the poor.

The movie is both funny, intelligent and warm. And even though it´s quite simple, it really touches my heart.

The film is sent on Swedish television every Christmas Eve, and Christmas would not be the same without it.

In English: 'The Christmas Eve of Karl-Bertil Jonsson'. This little story, by comedy writer Tage Danielsson and artist Per Ahlin, is a jewel.

With equal portions of affection and humor, the story of the young boy Karl-Bertil, and how he spends Christmas, is told. He takes the Christmas spirit far, when working at the post office and deciding to re-address Christmas gifts, so that they end up with poor people. His father finds it out, but what happens next is not what daddy had surmised.

The style of animation is original and charming, with a well-found sort of antique air to it, and the story unfolds very pleasantly - still not ignorant of the injustices in the society portrayed. A social message is presented, but in a very sweet and enjoyable way.

Tage Danielsson had a very personal way of combining pathos with comic ease, and this is one of the best examples of it.

This short animated film is shown once a year on Christmas eve in Sweden and it can´t be missed. Karl Bertils sweet mind helps us common mortals to behave for another year. The tale is narrated by the lovely voice of Tage Danielsson, a wonderful comedian, now past away.

When it comes to christmas, we have some stupid traditions in sweden. One is the one-hour mix of seriously downsized disney movie-cuts. It´s one of the seeeeerious traditions here. I don´t like it, but it takes the attention of about 50 percent of the swedish population for one hour, so I guess it haves some kind of value. I always wonder what the other 4 million does between 3 and 4 in the afternoon... Anyway, the story about Karl-Bertil Jonsson is really what christmas is about. A young man who works at the post-office takes all the gifts that are adressed to the rich people, and then gives them to the less fortunate. When he have to admit this to his very capitalistic father what he has done, all hell breaks loose. His father forces him to go to everyone he has "stolen" from, and admit his crime, but to everyones surprise, all the rich people are just delighted whit Karl-Bertils little christmas-scam... It may sound silly, but the comments (impossible to give to you in english in their right value of entertainment, but trust me, I cry in my laughter every christmas), and the nice story, makes it impossible to not love this story. I pity the fools that not are

given the possibility to see this.

I really love this little TV-film. It's just about 25 minutes long but truly a masterpiece; the tone, the humour, the message and perhaps most of all - the soundtrack.

Per Åhlins art work is superb.

Swedish Television has shown this on Xmas Eve every year since 1975. Bless it.