-Written by Kyle Bain.
2024 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW!
All is right in the world for Ben (Mark Duplass) and his daughter Claire (Ora Duplass). As they sing Christmas carols, go sledding, and share a delicious home-cooked meal–the harsh reality of their world rises to the surface. Oh, Christmas Tree combines the beauty of the holiday season with the dark truths of just about everything else, creating a wonderfully juxtapositional film that captures the essence of our reality.
In her acting debut, O. Duplass stars opposite her father in this touching drama–one that explores the ideas of loss and grief. As Claire and Ben celebrate their traditions with one another, it becomes increasingly clear that there’s something holding them back, something stopping them from being truly happy during their time together. Oh, Christmas Tree wades in the water of grief for some time before finally diving in–and O. Duplass carries this film on her shoulders from start to finish. She is charming, and she manages to remain interestingly reserved throughout the duration of the film—and this works heavily in her favor. By remaining somewhat reserved, Claire appeals to viewers on an emotional and sentimental level. She feels real, not like some caricature of the teenagers you see in the media, but incredibly relatable and grounded.
Starring opposite your own father potentially makes it easier to perform–at least it seems that way in Oh, Christmas Tree. There's a level of comfortability there that allows you to thrive, to be your best self during production. It’s clear the chemistry and the connection present between O. Duplass and M. Duplass, as they lean on one another throughout the course of Oh, Christmas Tree.
One single strand of oversized Christmas lights hangs on the wall behind the father-daughter duo at the start of Oh, Christmas Tree. It creates an ominous effect in that opening scene that allows viewers to understand there’s an intensity that lurks just beneath the surface. One simple set piece that doubles as a source of lighting strengthens the narrative from the start. While we sort of wade around, playing with the idea of emotional trauma, we don’t get to the bulk of it until later in the short film—but the lighting choice at the film's start prepares us for what’s to come.
Similarly, when it’s finally time to tackle the drama that has been circling, the lights go out. Oh, Christmas Tree now sees Ben and Claire discussing their troubles at bedtime with very little in terms of light. They now exist both literally and figuratively in the dark, and emotion becomes prominently featured as Oh, Christmas Tree comes to a close.
Oh, Christmas Tree is quick, swiftly telling viewers the story of a father and daughter in the throes of internal struggle. They each have their own, and yet they sort of exist together as one being, sharing traumatic experiences and both working to express these troubles to viewers in a similar fashion. Oh, Christmas Tree expresses how shared experiences can and do affect each person differently, but how we, as a collective, can combat those negative consequences. Oh, Christmas Tree is a touching film that tells a cohesive tale of family in unique, holiday-driven fashion; a story that is poignant, far reaching, and beautifully effective.
Directed by Katie Aselton.
Written by Mark Duplass.
Starring Mark Duplass & Ora Duplass.
8.5/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING
