"Silver Bells" is a superb Christmas film that has many variations from the common formulaic holiday romance movies. Those who particularly like that sort of film may not enjoy this film as much - unless they happen also to appreciate films that go a bit deeper with family and marriage.
One very different aspect of this plot is that the two people who eventually come together - or really, literally "find" another person, have both lost their spouses to death three and four years earlier. Their love, or romance is a slow "discovery" of one another that happens in the context of the main plot of the film. That is the separation of a father and his son, the son running away as a young teenager, and the dad searching for him for a year. Yes, there are divorces and single moms or dads with children. And, yes there are young women who are dating or engaged to men who may not be "Mr. Right," where the right guy comes along. But those aspects have plots that have been used so often that they are hardly interesting plots for stories anymore.
"Silver Bells" also goes further in other directions. There are more aspects- differences in interests of the dad and son, a young daughter and sibling of the son; the family's annual month-long trip from their tree farm home in Nova Scotia to New York City and a regular place where they set up to sell their Christmas trees and board with a woman who is a friend. And, much more to the meat of this story and film. The young son's interest in photography and the subsequent artistic views the audience get - seeing nature and architecture through the eyes of an artist. The dad's friendship with a local police officer who has helped look for his son; and a budding other romance - the policeman and a young woman friend of the female lead.
There's no doubt that patience is required because this film is much more slowly developed, but as such it is more down to earth and gives a real feel for the story and the lives of the people. It's not a quick run around and holidays romance. The film is based on a 2004 novel of the same title by Luanne Rice. All of the cast are very good in their roles. Three whose performances stand out are Anne Heche as Catherine O'Mara, Michael Mitchell as Danny Byrne, and Courtney Jines as Bridget Byrne.
Some aspects of the production are familiar - so many of these films that air on the Hallmark TV channel are made in Canada. One can understand when part of the plot or story is imparting the traditional aspects of a white Christmas, and the beauty of the countryside, forests, and hills raped in snow. But this one was made in the U. S., so the Christmas tree harvesting might have been filmed in any of several states where such farms exist - from New England to the West Coast. This one has both the pastoral scenery and some fairly nice scenic shots of the Big Apple.
And, one other aspect that is shown more in this than in most films, is signs of Christian faith. Some films will have scenes or dialog about children in a school play of the Christmas story, or a Christmas pageant that includes religion. But this one shows churches and some of the cast going to church. In that sense, also, it is more realistic - in showing true customs and practices of the vast majority of the population of the time.
This is a very good film for the Christmas holidays about family, love, healing from the loss of loved ones, and finding new love. It's a good story of hope and about second chances in life and how healing is hastened with care about and for others.
My favorite line in the film is when Christy Byrne (played by Tate Donovan) meets Sylvester Rheinback (played by John Cunningham). Christy, "Oh, you're Catherine's boss." Sylvester, "Well, I try not to boss her around too much."
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