Les Cadeaux is a 2024 French Christmas comedy film directed by Raphaële Moussafir and Christophe Offenstein.
The film was released on 25 December 2024 by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Contents
Plot
The film follows four generations of the Jewish-French Stain family as they attempt to navigate the pressures of the festive season, set two days before Christmas. The ritual of giving and receiving gifts is the central catalyst for conflict that is displayed, unveiling the long-held tensions and complex dynamics within the family.
The film's structure is a choral comedy, which combines the storylines of many of the characters. The members of the Stain family are seen trying to procure the perfect present, but their efforts are derailed by bizarre ideas, clumsiness, and emotional overload. The plot explores, with dark humor and benevolence, the neurosis of the films' characters, such as the father's hypochondria and the role of a therapist.
The film's main premise is that the gifts, intended to be a source of pleasure and connection, can instead be a source of "unspeakable suffering" and a potential "missile wrapped in floral paper," revealing painful truths and ultimately changing the way the characters view one another.
Cast
Chantal Lauby as Françoise Stein
Gérard Darmon as Michel Stein
Camille Lellouche as Charlotte Stein
Max Boublil as Jérôme Stein
Mélanie Doutey as Julie
Vanessa Guide as Océane
Gringe as Adrien
Reception
Critical reception was generally negative.