[ man narrating ] you all know who I am.
We meet once a year,
Every Christmas Eve.
But did you know that I, too, was a child once?
What? You don't believe me?
Well, let me tell you a story.
[ baby crying ] shh, shh-shh-shh-shh.
Nikolas. Nikolas darling.
Aada is running a very high fever.
- Your dad and I have to take her to the village right away. - [ door opens ]
Here's enough firewood until we return.
When the big hand is here and the little hand is there, we'll be back at the latest.
And we'll take a shortcut through the ice, and we'll save time.
Nikolas, you could finish making your present for Aada while we're gone.
Couldn't you? Mm-hmm.
[ kisses ]
[ door opens, closes ]
[ sighs ] don't worry, Nikolas. We won't be gone that long.
And we will be back soon.
All right?
[ grunting ]
[ blowing ]
[ knocking ]
Nikolas, we found your parents' tracks on the ice.
The footsteps-- they lead straight into open water.
I'm sorry, Nikolas.
I am so sorry.
[ woman ] of course nobody wants to leave an orphaned boy to freeze out in the cold...
Or starve to death. Of course not.
But Thomas and I already have three children of our own to look after.
Everybody's got children to look after.
Yes, and every fisherman's wife knows how hard it is to make a living. And as for Nikolas--
Throw the boy into the lake with his parents! That'll take care of him.
[ chuckles ] and I could do the throwing, if nobody else around here is man enough.
[ laughing ]
He's scurried off! The little runt's got no sense of humor.
[ panting ]
I have an idea.
Kristina and I may be able to take the boy for a while.
The fishing's been good this season, and we've been able to save.
I think we can manage to feed one more mouth-- at least through the winter.
Don't you think? [ murmurings ]
I think the whole village should take responsibility and raise the boy-- together.
How many households... Are present here?
One, two, three, four, five, six.
How about if each household takes care of the boy for one year...
And then hands him over to the next family?
- [ murmurings ] - I'm sure each family can manage one year.
You won't get me involved in that sort of nonsense.
But you don't even live in this village, Isaac. It's got nothing to do with you.
- Ah, be quiet. - Oh, come on!
[ baby crying ]
[ door opens, closes ]
So, together, we'll all take care of Nikolas. Yes. Yes, we will.
Thomas's family can start things off.
The boy will move to a new home every Christmas day, just like today.
- We're all agreed then? - [ murmurs of agreement ]
Good. [ gavel raps ]
Merry Christmas, little Aada.
[ baby crying ]
[ Nikolas narrating ] I could not forget my mother and my father...
And my sister Aada.
I knew they would not be coming back,
But I missed them very much.
[ chattering ]
Hello.
Thanks.
Careful.
[ laughs ]
But time heals all wounds,
And by Autumn the sadness began to fade away.
My boat is broken. Can you fix it?
Ask your dad to fix it.
My dad went fishing.
- Ask your mom then. - Mom can't do it.
Okay, give it here.
[ tapping ]
- [ Nikolas ] turn, boat! Turn! - Come over here!
Come here, boat! Come here, boat! Turn right!
[ both giggling ]
[ Nikolas narrating ] I didn't know it back then,
But Emil would become a good friend-- my best friend.
- [ Nikolas ] look how it skips across the water. - Great!
[ giggles ] stretch your arm back and throw!
I can throw it like this!
[ birds squawking ]
[ chattering ]
Here we go, mm-hmm. Up, up, up. One, two, three--
[ grunts ] good. Now let's get another one.
[ Nikolas narrating ] then came the moment I had been dreading all along.
I had to move to another family for the very first time.
Are you sure you can make it to their house by yourself? Mm-hmm.
Bye. Bye-bye. Bye-bye.
Bye. [ door opens ]
[ door closes ]
[ children chattering, laughing ]
[ Nikolas narrating ] years, families and Christmases came and went.
Every Christmas I carved presents...
For the children of my former families.
As the years passed, there were so many of them that I had to deliver the presents...
To their front doors at night. [ blowing ]
Well, that suited me fine,
Because I really didn't want to make a great fuss about it or anything.
Instead, I pretended not to know...
If someone came to thank me after Christmas.
On my sixth year,
Things didn't turn out exactly as they were supposed to.
That was a hard year for the whole village.
An early frost wiped out our entire harvest,
And the lake seemed empty of fish.
[ deer lowing ] no fish today either?
No, none today.
That's a shame.
[ Nikolas narrating ] unless things took a turn for the better,
Not one of the families would be able to give me a home for the coming winter.
[ dog barking ]
[ chuckles ]
Emil? What is it?
It's crazy Isaac. Run for it!
[ Isaac growls ]
Gather around! Gather around, everybody!
Get your homes ready for Christmas!
Cups, spoons, ladles, bowls, spatulas!
Everything made of wood for sale!
And if it's not here on the load, I'll get it later!
You, boy, come here.
[ grunts ]
This wasn't bought from me. [ horse nickers ]
You've been dealing with my rivals, eh?
Other carpenters, and that's why they won't buy Isaac's goods now.
It's been a bad year. We have no money. We can barely feed ourselves.
Who did you buy this from? Out with it!
From nobody. I made it myself. Hah! Don't lie to me.
Whose boy are you anyway?
Nobody's.
Oh, you're the poor devil who's going around from house to house.
Huh?
Where are the others? At the village meeting.
[ chuckles ]
What's so important that they must have a meeting, huh?
They're deciding what to do with me. Nobody can afford to keep me.
No wonder. You must be such a glutton that you ruined the village.
Now I can't sell anything. You should be cast into the lake! Get lost!
But why?
You don't even like children. He can help me at work.
We all know you, Isaac.
I was planning to shape that brat into a man within a year.
Well, if my offer isn't good enough for you,
There's nothing I can do.
Wait. Uh, hold on, Isaac.
Uh, what if we'd still consider--
There's nothing to consider. He'll be better off with me...
Than starving here in this poor village.
All right?
This is probably the last time I'll be able to visit you here.
Isaac lives so far away.
[ kisses ]
[ sniffles ] merry Christmas, little Aada.
Nikolas! Come and have a look.
Nikolas.
It has now been six years since you were orphaned and came here to us.
At first back then, I was sorry that we could not find a permanent home--
A permanent family to take care of you.
We had to solve the matter in a different way.
You had to go from home to home and stay with each family...
Only for a year.
Today I believe that none of the families regret that solution.
We have all gotten to know you.
And so that's how you-- that's how you have become...
Our own child.
- And our own brother. - [ laughing ]
On behalf of us all, and especially the children,
We wish to give you something to remember us by.
- But I can't. - Of course you could.
The sled is yours.
Still loafing about. Get in the sleigh!
Or you can walk the whole way.
[ blusters ]
[ bell jingling ]
[ gasps ]
[ sniffling ]
Why, you're not going to cry, are you?
Come on. Ginger, trot along home before night falls.
[ clicking tongue ]
Whoa! Ah!
What are you looking at? Take ginger into the stall.
Huh?
I'll go inside and light the stove. And leave this sleigh in the stall.
And no mucking about here. You came here to work. Get up!
And you sleep there. But--
No buts! Did you forget whose house this is?
- And you will call me master. - Yes.
What did you say? Yes, master.
Very good. Your name is brat.
It suits you better than Nikolas. Take your bags in there. Move it!
[ ticking ]
[ Isaac snoring ]
[ bird calling ]
Wake up, brat. Let's get to work.
Ahh.
Let's get to the workshop. You go on ahead.
But... Where's the workshop?
You're standing on it. [ laughing ] [ floor creaking ]
[ laughing continues ] [ door closes ]
What do you think? [ chuckles ]
Ah. Take a look at this dresser.
The secret is in the wooden inlays.
It's made of maple. That is how I make money.
Huh? Scoops and ladles are child's play compared to this.
These will go to parsons, gentleman farmers and other wealthy people.
This will go to a judge.
Is that chair going to the judge?
It's made of pine. This is made of maple.
Can't you tell one type of wood from another?
Maybe I made a mistake. You're no good as a carpenter.
You didn't make a mistake, master. I'm a quick learner.
A quick learner, eh? Let's see how quickly you learn to tidy up then.
Huh? Get on with it.
- Where are you going? - Upstairs.
You don't need to go upstairs to tidy up the workshop.
There's no need to clean here--
[ grunts ] the workbench is covered with dust.
If it gets mixed with varnish or stain, the whole work is ruined.
Lesson number one:
The workshop will be kept tidy at all times, no matter what.
Lesson number two: Hand me your carving knife.
You don't use this on my wood.
No, don't!
Huh? It was my father's.
Oh. Get yourself a good knife from over there.
[ labored breathing ]
[ scraping ]
Go to bed.
Make sure you snuff out the candles.
- Why? - It has no branches.
Hmm.
[ panting ]
How can I find my things now?
[ Isaac snoring ]
[ yawns ]
[ bellows pumping ]
Master. Huh?
A year has passed, and I have to go soon.
So I thought I would thank all the villagers.
I thought that... Maybe I could have a day off?
No! When time is pressing, you don't waste time.
You work harder. [ grunts ]
Oh, so, a day off, eh?
[ panting ]
What are you doing here? [ gasps ]
Why aren't you in bed?
What, you've stolen wood from me?
It's just a piece you threw away, master.
Oh, this is what you do behind my back, eh?
I'm sorry, master.
[ grunts ] [ gasps ]
It isn't badly broken.
Uhh-- all right, bring me the wood drill and a headless nail.
Ah! Why are you working in the dark? It only results in duds and rejects.
There.
[ blowing ]
Now you can't tell it's broken.
You have more toys somewhere, right?
You must really like those little brats.
Did you plan to slip out to deliver presents because I didn't give you a day off?
That's what I thought.
Go on then.
But remember to return before sunrise.
We don't idle away, even though it's Christmas.
[ pencil scratching ]
Hmm. Master?
Not a word. I may change my mind.
You can build your toys in the evenings. All right?
I might even help you. At least now I can get some sleep.
[ chuckles ] building toys in the middle of the night! [ groaning ]
[ chuckles ]
[ Isaac ] there you are. Finally you showed up.
May have thought you had gone into hibernation or something.
I already put your stuff into the sled. All right?
[ ginger blusters ]
What are you looking at, huh?
You wouldn't have made it back before sunrise,
And all the work you had done would have been wasted.
Now hop in. Let's go.
Let's go!
That was the last house.
This is foolishness. Foolishness.
[ groans ] I can understand why you do this, but an old man like me?
Let's go home. There's still one more place.
[ grunts ]
Hold on. Let me take a look at that.
Ah.
I made a horse like this...
When the boys were young.
Hmm, just like this.
What boys?
My boys.
I had two boys--
Herman and Henrik.
And a wife, Margaret.
She died when the boys were about your age.
Ah--
Then they ran away to sea and left me all alone,
'cause I had become the way I am.
Um-- I see--
[ sniffles ] Henrik and Herman when I see different children.
That's why I'm mean towards them.
I still miss my boys.
[ sniffling continues ]
What I mean to say is, uh,
You could stay with me...
If you like.
And merry Christmas, Nikolas.
My father's knife.
Thank you, master.
And from now on you can call me Isaac. Isaac.
Merry Christmas, Aada.
Merry Christmas, Isaac.
[ chuckles ] merry Christmas, Nikolas.
That's enough. Let's go.
[ Nikolas narrating ] that Christmas changed everything.
My vagabond life was finally over.
Isaac provided me with a real home...
That I would never have to give up.
[ bell tolling ]
[ chattering ]
Thank you very much. Good day to you.
Thank you very, very much. Good day to you, Madame.
Hurry up, hurry up, hurry up!
Good day to you!
[ chuckles ] yes.
Come and see the finest craftsmanship--
[ door opens ]
[ ginger blusters ]
[ Nikolas narrating ] the years with Isaac passed quickly.
And before I knew it, I was all grown up--
[ blowing ] with a beard and all.
[ goats bleating ] the village had grown.
It spread from the shore to the forests.
And new generations of children were born so fast...
That Isaac and I could hardly keep count.
But actually, we did have a secret helper.
[ bell tingles ]
[ footsteps approaching ]
Nikolas.
Emil. [ laughs ]
Come here. [ chuckles ] long time no see. You should come over more often.
It's been busy at the workshop. Isaac's not so young. Hmm.
Do you have the list?
Hmm.
Well.
So many new children again. Hmm!
- In fact, there's one name missing from that list. - Hmm?
Elsa.
Is it a-- a girl, three months old.
Let's add her name to the list.
And what's the name of this little Princess?
Aada.
Aada?
Hello. [ chuckles ]
Aada.
Whoa.
[ hinges creak ]
Nikolas.
This is Henrik and Herman.
My sons.
I sought them out,
Found them and asked them to come here.
Yes.
We were wrong when we left.
So we want to make it up to our father.
We came to take him to live with us.
Live with you? Where?
Away from here.
Father's just too old to be living in these arctic conditions.
What about me?
You can have the house...
And the workshop.
You've earned them.
Wait, Nikolas.
Nikolas.
Try to understand.
Even though I love you like my own son.
This key...
Opens the chest under my drawer.
I've always been frugal.
Maybe too much so.
I think you can do better.
Try to understand.
[ sniffles ] try.
[ grunting ]
Nikolas?
- Emil. - Nikolas.
Hello. Hello.
[ laughing ] ah! Hello!
Where have you been? Here.
Here? Here, here.
Here! [ chuckling ]
I haven't finished everything yet though.
There's enough presents for 10 years, at least.
There's barely enough for next Christmas.
What's that? A map.
There, there.
To that village, to those houses.
And there, there, there, there, there, there, there, there.
- Christmas presents! - Christmas presents?
- Yes! - That many villages and children.
How can you tell what goes where and who it goes to?
There's a simple solution.
I'll wrap the presents in packages and write names on them.
Packages? Yes.
- Ingenious, isn't it? - How are you gonna do all this?
[ laughing ]
Isaac saved everything he ever made.
Now I can bring Christmas Joy to children for the rest of my life.
Nikolas, no one can live just for Christmas.
I've been very selfish.
I've only given presents to those who have helped me.
You? Selfish?
From now on, I'll only appear on Christmas Eve.
Nikolas. Nikolas!
I'll come to your shop once a year,
Pick up my food and supplies, pick up a list of the new children.
There's more to life than just Christmas.
Like what?
It's an impossible task.
You'll never get that many presents on board anything.
And poor old ginger won't be able to move such a load.
It can't be done. Yes, it can.
It can't be done. Oh, yes, it can.
It can't be done. Not enough time before Christmas.
Animals are quick to learn, my dear. Reindeer are not horses.
Listen, Hilda. It's child's play.
I can handle reindeer, my dear. [ laughing ]
"reindeer, my dear."
You can try.
The reindeer obey me better, by the way, when I've got this cap on my head.
Sorry, Hilda. That color would scare even the squirrels away.
Reindeer will obey me even with a bucket on my head.
Here, chickie, chickie, chickie!
Red caps. Won't be needing any red caps.
[ grunts ]
All right, guys. Here we go.
Lesson's gonna start. Antlers down.
Come on. Chop-chop.
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and Blitzen,
It's school time.
Time for your first lesson. [ grunts ]
It's lassoing. Dancer, behave.
Sit there! Sit down.
Sit! Sit! Stay.
Okay. Right. Here comes uncle Nik-- oh!
All right. Listen to uncle Nikolas. I'm gonna get ya.
Whoa! I'm gonna get ya.
Hey! Come on!
[ exhales ]
All right. Let's try it again. All right.
I'll strap-- hey! Whoa! Hold it! Hold it!
Wait for me. Okay. I'm gonna teach you guys--
[ screams ]
I won't hurt you. Whoa!
[ groans, coughs ]
[ exhausted sighing ]
A red cap, a red coat.
And you know what? I'll take red pants too.
Huh? What was the color?
How 'bout red?
[ scoffs ] what was that you said?
R-e-d!
I got a surprise for you! [ chuckling ]
You'll see who's boss.
Come on, Blitzen! Keep it movin'! Ho!
Whoo!
[ chuckling ] ho! Ho!
Attaboy.
Well, Aada. I wonder what you'll find in there.
A top. That's wonderful.
[ Nikolas narrating ] after a few years,
Children began spreading all kinds of stories...
About some mysterious bringer of Christmas presents.
Some swore that on Christmas Eve,
They had seen bands of elves delivering presents.
Others claimed it was the work of a child-loving gnome.
Luckily, they didn't suspect me...
At all.
Nikolas is coming! Run!
Hey, Aada.
Where'd everybody go?
They're afraid of you.
Me?
What for?
Michael said it's not you who brings us presents at Christmas...
And that you hate children.
Is it true?
Well, what Michael says is half true.
I don't bring any presents, but I don't hate children.
So who brings them?
Who knows?
[ chuckles ] who knows?
[ door opens, bell tingles ]
[ door closes ]
Nikolas told me when I asked him.
Aada told me you said you don't bring Christmas presents.
Aada is right.
Aada!
Why did you say that? Now go tell her the truth.
Definitely not.
The children must never connect me with the presents.
- That would ruin everything. - Why is that?
You'll understand one day.
[ quiet clanking ]
Nikolas! Emil.
Have you seen Aada? No.
- Aada's missing. - When?
"dear mom and dad,
"please do not worry. I've gone to find out...
Who really bring the Christmas presents."
We have to wake everyone up and organize a search party.
You have to lend me some clothes.
Otherwise I'll be giving myself away.
Okay, boys. Hurry on home.
[ bell clanging ]
We'll look for Aada in pairs. Each pair take a torch and a lantern.
Aada can't have gone far. Let's get moving!
- I know where she is. - What did you say, Michael?
Aada went to bring you a present.
Me? What for?
She doesn't believe you don't bring us presents.
- So why didn't you tell us that earlier? - I promised not to tell.
Will Aada come back?
Aada!
Aada doesn't even know where you live. [ man ] Aada!
And even if she did-- she wouldn't make it that far.
Aada! Aada!
[ dog barking in distance ]
[ groans, sighs ]
Nikolas?
Aada.
Oh! Aada.
Nobody thought you could manage to get this far.
Twelve Miles?
Twelve Miles in a blizzard.
How is that possible?
It was nothing on a reindeer sleigh.
A reindeer sleigh?
What reindeer sleigh?
Suddenly, a sleigh appeared.
I thought it was you, but the sleigh was empty.
Well, not quite.
[ exhales ]
I was cold, so I put on your clothes.
Then the reindeer brought me here.
[ kisses ]
[ Nikolas narrating ] so I told Aada everything--
How I'd become who I was...
And why I thought it was so important...
To deliver presents at Christmas.
I even revealed my secret dream--
That the tradition would carry on...
Even after I was gone.
I wonder how Aada would have turned out if she hadn't become the fairy of the lake.
Hopefully, she'd be like you.
Merry Christmas, Aada.
- Merry Christmas, Aada. - Merry Christmas, Nikolas.
[ Nikolas narrating ] Aada kept her promise.
She didn't reveal my secret.
In fact, quite the opposite.
He didn't actually look like Nikolas at all.
He was just some wrinkly old red-coated man...
Who called himself father Christmas.
[ Nikolas narrating ] the years passed by, and before I even knew it,
My friendship with Aada had lasted nearly 20 years.
Nikolas. Nikolas.
Hmm? Oh!
- Well? - I'm getting married.
[ packages falling, clattering ]
[ exhales ]
- To Michael? - Mm-hmm.
[ chuckling ] [ chuckling, grunting ]
[ laughing ]
[ kisses ]
[ muttering ]
- Nikolas. - Yeah?
You'll still pick me up on Christmas morning, won't you?
Oh. Of course I will.
[ muttering continues ]
Whoa!
Hi. Hey.
[ clicks tongue ]
[ giggling ]
[ water splashes ]
Thank you. For what?
Everything.
Just... Everything.
[ bird squawking ]
My father died.
[ crying quietly ]
[ sniffles ]
Part of loving is also the fear of losing it.
It's part of life.
Your father--
Emil taught me that.
And you've taught me how wonderful it is to give to other people.
Me? Mmm.
Nikolas,
Maybe you should think of yourself for a change, not everyone else.
Nothing lasts forever.
[ grunts ]
[ Nikolas narrating ] it was time for me to give in to my years.
Next Christmas would be my last.
My last Christmas.
That's beautiful. Who is it for?
Can I wrap it up? No. I want to do it myself.
See you Christmas morning.
Are you sure you don't want us to help you at Christmas?
Yes.
I want to do it alone.
Nikolas, remember your promise.
This is the last Christmas.
This is the last.
[ kisses ]
[ exhales ]
[ wind blowing ]
[ bells jingling ]
[ panting ]
Nikolas.
Nikolas!
"merry Christmas, my little Aada.
Your brother, Nikolas."
"merry Christmas to dear little Aada. Your brother, Nikolas."
I don't know what this means.
It means that we'll never see Nikolas ever again.
What do you mean?
I can't explain it. I just know.
Hello.
What are you doing? Michael, why are you doing that?
We agreed-- it's what Nikolas wanted-- the tradition to carry on.
No. If you made a present for our Nikolas,
Other children will be disappointed. Not necessarily.
What do you mean? Other fathers have done this too.
It's not at all the same thing.
Michael, that's cheating.
[ footsteps ]
[ clanking ]
Michael.
Michael!
[ wind whistling ]
Merry Christmas, little Aada,
And merry Christmas, Nikolas.
[ kisses ]
Go, dasher! Go, Dancer! Go, Prancer and Blitzen!
Hello! [ laughing ]
Yea! Hey, hey!
Yea!
Merry Christmas!
%% [ folk pop ]
%% [ man singing in Finnish ]
%% [ continues ]
%% [ ends ]
---the end---