Note from Kathie MM: The season of “Peace on earth, good will towards men” is a particularly good time to remember all the times when groups of people have put aside the enmities that they have constructed and instead engaged with each other as fellow human beings. The following film review, by our guest blogger Will Fitzpatrick, provides a potent example of the power of engagement.
Review of “Joyeux Noel“ by Will Fitzpatrick
Nominated for Academy Award, Golden Globe, and BAFTA for best foreign film, “Joyeux Noel” (Merry Christmas) commemorates a spontaneous cease fire amongst enemy troops in the trenches of World War I. After a celebratory exchange of Christmas carols amongst Scottish, French, and German troops, army generals agreed to put down their arms and ignore the war on an unforgettable Christmas Eve of brotherhood and companionship.
Complemented by strong acting performances and impressive visuals, this film powerfully illustrates an inspiring story of fraternization on a monumental day in history.
Addressing the transformational power of humanization, Albert Bandura argued that “the affirmation of common humanity can bring out the best in people.” Joyeux Noel reflects the power of this affirmation.
During the cease fire, “enemy” troops who had shot at each other the previous day exchanged cigarettes and liquor, shared photos of their wives, and engaged in friendly sports competition. After experiencing each others’ humanity, enlightened troops found themselves unable to shoot at each other.
In one emotionally wrenching scene, a French officer screams at his soldiers to “Fire!” at a lone enemy soldier running across the battlefield, and all but one remain confused and reluctant. A familiar alarm clock rings from the direction of the fallen soldier, and the French soldier whom he had befriended runs onto the battlefield, and tearfully embraces his dying comrade.
As Bandura argues, the “perpetration of inhumanities requires obedient functionaries.” A particularly haunting scene illustrates multiple mechanisms of moral disengagement being evoked in the effort to re-establish obedience following the ceasefire. For example, a French priest delivers a horrific speech to the replacements for the troops who “went awry” during the cease-fire: “The Germans are not like us, children of God.… you must kill every single one of them young or old, man, woman, or child.”
“Joyeux Noel” reminds us that when people from opposing “sides” have the opportunity to “fraternize,” to come together as brothers and recognize each others’ humanity, it becomes much more difficult for people in power to keep them morally disengaged and willing to kill each other. This is likely a major reason why “fraternization” becomes a dirty word during wartime.
Note from Kathie MM: Recognizing the humanity of their victims led thousands of American troops in Vietnam to refuse to fight during the Vietnam war, which helped bring about the end of that war—a story well-described in the documentary “Sir, no sir,” which we will review in a later post.
Kathie Malley-Morrison, Professor of Psychology, and Will Fitzpatrick
