A story about the kind-hearted Nicolas, who finds the greatest joy in giving gifts to others. A fairy-tale film about the beauty of giving and what a great gift friendship and love are.

Little Nicolas loses his parents and his sister Ada. The entire village begins to take care of the young orphan Nicolas. They decide to take turns caring for the boy each year.

Despite all the hardships Nicolas has faced in life, he is determined to do good. He carves toys and gives them as gifts to other children.

A difficult year arrives, and no family is able to take care of Nikolas. Isaki, the terror of all the children, decides to take Nikolas in. He wants to exploit Nikolas’s talent for carving for his own gain.

Isaki treats Nikolas harshly, but over time, a bond forms between them. Isaki trains Nikolas in the craft of woodcarving, and in turn, Isaki learns from Nikolas to be kinder.

Isaki keeps Nikolas with him, and Nikolas becomes like a son to him. Nikolas grows into a man, and Isaki grows old.

One day, Isaki leaves, bequeathing the house and a great fortune to Nikolas. However, Nikolas has no intention of keeping the estate for himself.

Finland, 2007

Crew: Juha Wuolijoki;

Cast: Hannu-Pekka Björkman, Otto Gustavsson, Jonas Rinne, Kari Väänänen, Minna Haapkylä, Mikko Leppilampi, Laura Birn, Nella Siilasmaa, Antti Tuisku, Ville Virtanen;

Parents’ Guide:

1 instance of “damn,” swearing.
Isaki’s insensitive treatment of Nikolas.
Distortion of the true story of Bishop Nicholas and the meaning of Christmas without sufficient explanation for children.

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