One Magic Christmas (1985)

This is one of the Christmas films that has always stuck with me. It's a little known Canadian film, made by Disney, but you can see many things that are distinctly Canadian throughout the film (including RED mailboxes!)

The film stars Mary Steenburgen as Ginnie, a mother of two who just doesn't seem to have the Christmas spirit. She works long hours for low wages, just trying to make ends meet in order to support her family. A Christmas angel named Gideon is assigned to her case, and must get her to regain her lost Christmas spirit.

There are a lot of dark elements in this film, not to give anything away, but it's not your average uplifting Christmas movie. In fact, most of it is quite depressing. The film deals with a lot of grown up issues, but through the eyes of Ginnie's children (whose performances carry the film)

But, it's a Disney film, so it's not totally depressing. The movie also features what I think is the best incarnation of Santa Claus ever to be captured on film, including a twist on Santa's elves.

This film also marks the debut of a young Sarah Polley, as the neighbor girl Molly, and another veteran Canadian actor, Elias Koteas.