Christmas in the Clouds (2001)

Instant Favorite.

Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.

"Christmas in the Clouds" is a charming romantic, Native American take on "Fawlty Towers".Set at a Utah resort that's Indian tribal owned and operated (as was the production of the film), with a majority Indian cast, the plot entanglements and eventual resolution in debut writer/director Kate Montgomery's film are pretty obvious from the first ten minutes, but how the colorful characters get there is fun. The opening voice over narration is a bit awkward in setting up the situation for the mistaken identities, but the introduction of each eccentric character is quite entertaining. While the plot contrivance in romantic travails probably goes back further than Shakespeare, the dialog that keeps the mistakes going in double entendres is amusing (including her as a NY Mohawk "passing" as NY Italian by using her father's last name).Amidst the funny running joke about romance novels' depiction of a "savage" lover, Timothy Vahle as "Ray Clouds on Fire" and Mariana Tosca as "Tina Little Hawk" are staggeringly gorgeous, but they each bring a wariness and neediness to their characters that has you rooting for them more than for the vicarious thrill of watching beautiful people kiss on screen. We rarely see in films educated off-the-rez professionals like them back home, having returned to their families for emotional personal reasons (it's inferred that his ex was non-Indian). The parent/child relationships throughout are much warmer than any we've seen before in the few Indian films.There are jokes throughout on Indian stereotypes in image and language, and that's the term the characters use, not Native American. Here the alcoholic, alienated father is the white guy, M. Emmet Walsh, who is both comic and touching. But none of the whites are played for stereotypes (including a cute flirtation between a British guest and "Ray"s father, played by a solid Sam Vlahos). In another reverse, this may be Wes Studi's only comic performance, in a cameo as a guest bingo caller. Singer Rita Coolidge of the distinctive husky voice also has a brief cameo as "Tina"s mother. Graham Greene is very funny as a vegetarian chef with serious issues about his menu. There is some contemporary Native American music on the soundtrack and lovely performances of translated Chrismas carols.The tiny budget is obvious with some continuity errors and background shots with inconsistent snow/no snow, but the Utah scenery is lovely, and this is much more about the people up front than the details in the background. What a shame that I was the only one in the theater in NYC, when a broad stereotyped ethnic romantic comedy like "Big Fat Greek Wedding" was a hit. While I would enjoy following these characters in a continued life in a sit com, this sweet little film could have an extended life as a holiday staple on cable, like on the Hallmark Channel.

The moments, as I was settling in my seat at a local cinematic arts venue that screens mostly low-budget indie films, were gentle and I still had a lot of hope for Christmas in the Clouds. I had talked to my mom earlier that afternoon and told her I was on my way to see the film, which she'd already seen at a previous screening months before, during the annual NMAI Native Cinema Showcase held every year in Santa Fe, New Mexico during Indian Market. I hadn't had much interest in the film then. Naturally, there was not the buzz currently surrounding the film at that time. I opted to see 5th World, by Blackhorse Lowe instead.At first glance, "Clouds. . ." seemed "harmless enough". After settling in my seat, and after being introduced to the line-up of half-characters, engaged seemingly by their own affectedness, and not much else, my vague and creeping dis-ease slowly turned to manifestations, gestures, and certain facial expressions of consternation, horror and dismay at what I can only come close to describing as an American Indian circus on-screen. Too many clowns, all of them sad.The film is a farce. Devastatingly obvious in its gimmicks. The writing is bad, the cast is halfhearted, though pretty to look at, and those "reputable Indian actors and actresses" in the film could not save this film from the dredges of its own cultural, political, cinematic misery if they died trying. The most dangerous thing about this film: one cannot hope to take a poorly written, poorly manipulated offering (cinematic or literary) and throw it in an Indian setting and then offer it up. This film is being lauded as THE Indian film with the most "crossover potential", the film that's supposedly geared to hit the non-Indian market with some kind of force that previous films with almost all-native casts just did not possess. Disgusting. The film is not only a misrepresentation of Indian people and Indian culture, it is a parody of a parody, of a parody. Parodies of this nature, are misaligned, misguided and so bent on "parodying for the sake of parodying" and making certain parodies of themselves, that they somehow, come all the way back around to not parody the film itself, or even its subject, but to parody the very form, and all elements at work--cultural, political, and most sacred to Indian people-- the spiritual, and the sacredness of STORY. The "Indian parody" (especially one produced by a white filmmaker) is not justified nor is the public prepared for it. When an entire culture, abused and marred by history, has never been truly and thoroughly evaluated on its own terms and perceived by these terms-- it is thoroughly impossible and deplorable to parody the culture. The jokes fall flat. The people portraying the culture end up making a joke of the culture, and the cinematic art form itself. They end up making a joke of their audience, and themselves. Oprah has lauded this movie. And, now I'll never give Oprah as much credit ever again. On the slim chance that the makers of Christmas in the Clouds will ever come to read this review: thank you for making this movie. Every Indian, and perhaps every human too, with a vested interest in true and thorough cultural/political evaluation and dialogue should see this movie and do what they can to intellectually, critically, consciously and openly rip it apart for the contrived cinematic drivel and cultural degradation that it is.

"Christmas in the Clouds" is a wonderful, warm and funny film that is being kept from the public by shortsighted studios and distributors who can't see past the fact that there are no big "bankable" stars in it. I saw it at the 2001 Mill Valley Film Festival, where it was cheered by a packed house. I've been talking to friends ever since about how terrific it is. Particularly noteworthy and enjoyable is Graham Greene's deadpan performance as the quirky chef, but the rest of the cast is also excellent. It is positively criminal that this film hasn't gotten distribution yet. With all the dreck that's out there, you'd think someone would pick it up and run with it.

How the Hollywood moguls missed this one is beyond me. Happily, I got to view this movie at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival. It deserves to be picked up and put on top of everyone's Christmas Tree!