The Best Christmas Pageant Ever // Review and opinion [ENG-ESP]

! [Spanish version]
Hace una semana les comenté que comencé a ver películas navideñas y había empezado con cuatro que eran románticas y hasta escribí una publicación donde reseñé estas películas. Esta semana he visto otras que no fueron necesariamente románticas pero que ninguna despertó en mí las ganas de escribir, hasta hoy que vi The Best Christmas Pageant Ever o en español La peor obra navideña. Me desperté con ganas que él espíritu de la navidad se apodera de mí y me hiciera parar de la cama, así que pensé que viendo una película navideña iba a causar ese efecto y de esa manera recibir al Espíritu de la Navidad hoy en su día.
Aunque no me equivoqué porque luego me paré de la cama a abrir todas las ventanas y puertas (se supone que eso se hace este día) también he pasado todo el día pensando en la película, en lo que significa la Navidad, la hipocresía de los que se dicen llamar cristianos, en el rechazo hacia el menos desfavorecido y en el sentimiento que me causó esta película, tanto que termine llorando al final.

! [Spanish version]
Es una película basada en una novela infantil de 1971 de la autora Bárbara Robinson. Trata sobre seis hermanos de muy mala conducta que nadie quiere en el pueblo, y un día quieren participar en la puesta en escena sobre el nacimiento de Jesús en Noche Buena, una tradición que ha perdurado en el pueblo durante 75 años siendo perfecta. Nadie los quiere tener dentro de la obra pero nadie se atreve a decirles que no, este año la obra tiene una nueva directora que está decidida a demostrar que ella puede recrear una obra perfecta, sin importar quienes son los actores.
La historia es narrada por Beth la hija de Grace la directora sin experiencia de la obra. Beth de manera personal nos cuenta como vivió los abusos y la llegada a la iglesia de los hermanos Herdman, así como todo el desarrollo de la obra y lo que aprendió al conocer más Imogene (hermana mayor).

I don’t want to talk too much about the development of the story because there are really no dramatic twists that will amaze you, in fact, everything is very predictable, from the beginning we already know how it will turn out. The important thing about this film is the message that it shows you from the first moment in which a group of children who apparently are growing up alone because at no time we see their parents or anyone to watch over them, behave rude, rude and savage to the world and everything that is him. But no one does anything, indeed, no one understands that their behavior is the result of abandonment, first by their parents and then by society.

When in search of good food they approach the church they are also treated in a derogatory manner and with fear that they will ruin something that has been perfect for 75 years, but no one dares to say that they do not accept them because they are afraid of a group of children who have even caused fires. Imogene, is the big sister and you can say the leader, the rest of the kids do what she says and if she wants to be in the play everyone will be performing. She is like a little mom, but she is a child that even though she takes care of them and cooks to feed them she can’t do the job of an adult. The people who are supposed to take them in and try to make them feel valued are not there and society rejects them, you can understand that children all they need is a little love and that their behavior is a way to protect themselves.

Source

When they learn the story of the birth of Jesus is where they bring out that critical thinking person, questioning the story and asking questions that perhaps we have all asked ourselves at one time or another. They investigate more about the story of Jesus and his parents, everything that was going on at the time, why Mary and Joseph had to flee, and even why the Wise Men went in search of Jesus. Why did they go on that journey? Why the gifts they brought? Are those gifts useful for a baby born in a stable? I don’t know about you but I have asked myself the same questions.

I think the questioning part of the story is the most fun part of the movie, because actually asking certain questions has logic and investigating and learning was excellent, because I myself say: what I don’t know, I investigate.

An emotional ending that makes you cry, well with me it did. But I don’t know if it’s because since it started I felt empathy for these poor children alone in the world, where everything that happens is their fault and nothing good is ever expected from such a person, rejected by people who say they are Christians but with their actions and what they say they show what they carry in their hearts. I hope everyone can see this movie, because it is really worth it, I really liked how it shows that part of society that is indifferent and also judge.