Christmas is advertising time – not only because retailers expect big business from the gift-giving season, but also because touching commercials are published for the holiday. In Germany, Edeka, Penny and Co. address the feelings of customers with emotional clips, in Great Britain there is a similar tradition. Retail groups also publish touching short films there.
This year, however, one amateur filmmaker has outstripped all the big names. Sam Teale is just 20 years old and filmed his three minute film entitled ‘The Go Kart’ in his hometown of Cleckheaton. In it, he takes up the concerns of many people who are suffering from inflation and increasing insecurity – using the example of a single father as an example.
The man can’t buy his son any Christmas presents because he hardly ever has to pay for his everyday living expenses: he has to turn down the heating and sits in the apartment in his coat. In order to give his son a meal, he does not eat himself. As it turns out, his wife has died and he alone is responsible for the boy.
When the boy is asked what he wants for Christmas, he says sadly, “Santa Claus is poor this year.” But in the end, the father comes up with an idea that saves him: he makes the go-kart he wanted out of old boards for the little one. In the end, both visit the grave of the deceased woman. The ad’s message appears: “The magic of Christmas is made, not bought.”
The film is therefore probably not suitable as a consumer-driven commercial, but it does address the situation of many people who are in financial difficulties at this time. The clip has already been viewed more than 13 million times on Facebook alone – within just ten days. And the comment columns are full of users not ashamed of their tears. “This reflects exactly my reality,” writes one man. “Beautiful, I’m crying,” someone commented.
With modest resources, filmmaker Sam Teale touches thousands. He shot at his old elementary school, at his hairdresser’s and in the cemetery where his grandfather is buried. “We wanted to create something that would be relatable and related to rising prices,” Teale explained. With his project, the 20-year-old wants to remember the core of Christmas: “I think we’ve sometimes lost the meaning of Christmas. It’s not just about Christmas trees, fancy food and great gifts – it’s about being with the family ” he told the BBC.
Sources: Sam Teale on Youtube / Sam Teale on Facebook / BBC
Watch the video: The British department store chain John Lewis relies on Christmas commercials year after year, which sometimes bring tears to the viewers’ eyes. So also in 2022.
