A DIRECT YET ENGAGING TALE OF RETRIBUTION

Early on in his "man versus wild" thriller Alangu, writer-director SP Sakthivel makes an effective storytelling decision of portraying his central character Dharman (Gunanidhi) as an ordinary man to gain our empathy for him.

- SREEJITH MULLPILLY

MOGENE Herdman (Beatrice Schneider) shouts, "They've had all kinds of chances," when the church begins adding names of participants for the 75th Christmas pageant in their town. This line encapsulates the core message of inclusivity in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, a film full of life that beams with positivity. Directed by Dallas Jenkins, the film begins with Beth (Molly Belle Wright/Lauren Graham) narrating the story of the troublesome Herdman siblings in their fictional neighborhood of Emmanuel. The Herdmans, estranged by their father and largely ignored by their mother, are ostracized by the community. Their presence is frowned upon, and they too really don't care about socializing with others in Emmanuel. Yet, as fate would have it, these children, who have never even stepped foot in a church, are cast in the leading roles of the Christmas pageant. Thus, Beth gains a profound understanding of the true meaning of Christmas.

The film, based on Barbara Robinson's novel The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, is light and resplendent in hope. One of its best aspects is that it also doesn't shy away from criticizing the arrogance of people hailing from so-called 'decent families'. Dallas Jenkins, who made the Christian web series The Chosen, proves perfect for the subject as he has poured his heart and soul into this narration. No character feels forced or contrived here, and they all feel real and relatable as well. Beth, Grace, and Imogene anchor the story, representing three kinds of people: the flawed, the judgmental, and the ever-loving. The film comforts all three kinds and corrects the judgmental ones gently.