Silent Night - A Song for the World - DVD

Movie: Even if you want to believe it when you turn on the radio in the run-up to Christmas or walk through the Christmas market, "Last Christmas" or "The Christmas Bakery" are not the best-known Christmas songs. No, that honor undoubtedly belongs to a song that has been known all over the world for two centuries and has been published in countless versions. We are talking, of course, about "Stille Nacht". Written in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber and Joseph Mohr, the song has been translated into over 300 languages and dialects. The song is said to have had a very special meaning during World War I, when it provided a day's truce between the Germans and the British, uniting the war-torn world for a brief moment.

At the latest with the interpretation by the American superstar Bing Crosby in 1934, "Stille Nacht" became world-famous and is still regularly reinterpreted by very big stars like Mariah Carey, Johnny Cash, Michael Bublé or Justin Biber. The documentary film "Stille Nacht - Ein Lied für die Welt" looks at the genesis and success story of the song with scenes, interviews and Christmas impressions and also shows what influence it still has on Christmas music today. You also get to hear various interpretations of "Stille Nacht", but also some other beautiful Christmas songs.

In addition, there are interviews with, for example, star producer and multiple Grammy winner David Foster, who together with Michael Bublé one of the most successful Christmas albums of recent years, singer Kelly Clarkson, the famous opera singer Rolando Villazón or singer Josh Groban. The only criticism here is that - unlike in the trailer - there are no name inserts explaining who is giving their statement here. Since here not only people are interviewed, who really know everyone, appropriate insertions would have been quite helpful. Between the interviews there are beautiful shots of snowy mountain landscapes, of New York at Christmas, of German Christmas markets or of festively illuminated London. All this is held together by actor Peter Simonischek as narrator.

Admittedly, the game scenes are not always convincing - for example, the short feature on Bing Crosby. But all in all "Stille Nacht - Ein Lied für die Welt" is a very atmospheric and also interesting documentary that manages one thing above all. It spreads Christmas spirit and shows what power music can have. And that is just beautiful!

Picture + Sound: The Christmas mood of the documentary also transfers to the home theater thanks to a warm color scheme. The image sharpness is on a good TV level, here and there, however, slight blurring can be detected. The sound is only available in a German-language Dolby Digital 5.1 mix, which does not necessarily inspire with great spatiality, but it absolutely fulfills its purpose of transporting interview sequences and the music powerfully from the speakers. Good!

Extras: Unfortunately, there is no bonus material.

Conclusion: "Stille Nacht - Ein Lied für die Welt" is a Christmas documentary that not only traces the history of the world's most famous Christmas carol, but also presents various interpretations of the classic. A film full of Christmas images and sounds that shows how important music in general and "Stille Nacht" in particular is for the Christmas season. The technical realization of the film is on a good level, but there is no additional material - not even the usual trailer. All in all a nice mood for Christmas and therefore also: Recommended!

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp