Sagan om Karl-Bertil Jonssons julafton

"Sagan om Karl Bertil Jonssons julafton" might be the cutest Swedish movie of all times. It's about Karl Bertil, the son of a very rich man, who steals Christmas presents from the rich and give them to the poor.

The movie is both funny, intelligent and warm. And even though it´s quite simple, it really touches my heart.

The film is sent on Swedish television every Christmas Eve, and Christmas would not be the same without it.

In English: 'The Christmas Eve of Karl-Bertil Jonsson'. This little story, by comedy writer Tage Danielsson and artist Per Ahlin, is a jewel.

With equal portions of affection and humor, the story of the young boy Karl-Bertil, and how he spends Christmas, is told. He takes the Christmas spirit far, when working at the post office and deciding to re-address Christmas gifts, so that they end up with poor people. His father finds it out, but what happens next is not what daddy had surmised.

The style of animation is original and charming, with a well-found sort of antique air to it, and the story unfolds very pleasantly - still not ignorant of the injustices in the society portrayed. A social message is presented, but in a very sweet and enjoyable way.

Tage Danielsson had a very personal way of combining pathos with comic ease, and this is one of the best examples of it.

This lovely little story really represents Christmas as I know it... in Sweden most people spend a good part of Christmas Eve watching TV and this is one of the shows that has come to be a celebrated tradition, broad-casted every Christmas Eve for the last couple of decades. It is the tale of a modern day Robin-Hood whose generosity at first is met with suspicion but finally he manages to remind everyone he meets what Christmas is all about - giving and loving not greed for all the right presents.

The animations are funny and well done and the warm and comforting voice of Tage Danielsson guides us through the film, leaving us with a warm fuzzy beautiful Christmas feeling deep within.

Beautiful and charming imagery with a wonderful story about the true spirit of Christmas. This is to me, the ultimate Christmas film. The voice actors, the writing, the humour and the warm atmosphere but still with a streak of darkness. It is absolute perfection. There is not a single thing that could have been done better. It's probably the best animated film ever made in Sweden. Those are some of the resons I watch this film almost every Christmas.

Shown mostly every Xmas in Sweden, this 'short' is typical of the output of Tage Danielsson, one of the greatest and brightest figures of Swedish entertainment and even political thought.

Ever incisive, Tage could cut to the quick with skits that had you rolling in the aisles - and feeling good at the same time (which is no mean feat).

And he always had a message with all that he did. And this Xmas story is no exception.

It's brilliant, it's brilliantly narrated (by Tage himself of course) and no Xmas at home in Sweden would be really complete without it.

Let's all play homage to a great man and thank him for what he gave us all those years - Tage tragically died in skin cancer at an early age. I was fortunate enough to meet him privately, and he was every bit the same person the public knew him as.

A truly great man - and here is yet another gem he gave us. Enjoy. It's a lot of laughter, but it's extremely big hearted. It will make your Xmas all the more full of warmth.