‘Dear Santa’ delivers love and joy
“Dear Santa” doesn’t deal with the coronavirus pandemic, racial justice or the political divide, but it might be the most important movie of 2020. At the very least, the film comes at the perfect time, and we’ve never needed it more.
Director Dana Nachman’s documentary is about Operation Santa, the United States Postal Service’s yearly program to deliver hundreds of thousands of letters addressed from the kids to Mr. Claus. An army of mostly volunteer “elves“reads those letters and assign them to other volunteers for response.
We meet volunteers across the country and admire their full and giving hearts. We read charming excerpts from the children’s letters, including some unusual requests (an iguana?). And we hear from the kids themselves: Nachman and her team track down some of the letter writers, and they describe their hopes, dreams and feelings as only a child can.
Kids have a large capacity to love, are automatically trusting and have a remarkable ability to adapt. One child, whose family fled the fires in Paradise, Calif., in November 2018, asks for toys because the family had to leave so suddenly that she left hers behind. An underprivileged child in New York asks for a limo ride, like rich kids in the movies (“Home Alone 2,” for example).
There are heartbreaking moments in “Dear Santa,” and yet it’s a feel-good film of pure love and joy. Nachman, who has an affinity for telling children’s stories makes sure the children’s trust in Santa remains strong.
The “elves” say they work for Santa and are in contact with him. Letters will eventually make their way to the North Pole. If your kids still believe in Santa, it’s OK for them to watch the movie. They’ll love it. “Dear Santa” is a family film in every sense.
The “elves” have their stories, too. One man, Damion, works tirelessly for his nonprofit in New York, which teams up with Operation Santa to gather donations for toys and presents for disadvantaged kids who write to Santa. He explains that his own childhood was rough, with his single mother trying to keep the family together. So he knows their pain.
The Postal Service has certainly gotten a bad rap lately, but Operation Santa has been around in one form or another since 1907, and according to “Dear Santa,” it’s a smooth-running machine. If nothing else, this documentary will get you loving the USPS again.
Many postal employees, by the way, also volunteer their time, working extra hours to sort those letters. One carrier says it’s the most rewarding part of her job.
But as wonderful as the adults are, the film belongs to the children. Although, even kids know a phony Santa when they see one. One child says you can tell which department store Santas are really Santa himself and which are stand-ins.
“You can tell by the shoes,” he says. A nice pair of boots, and he’s likely Santa. But a pair of Nikes? He’s a fake.
Ultimately, “Dear Santa” is about pulling together, helping neighbors, loving each other and celebrating life and the spirit of giving. It’s a delightful gift at the end of a challenging year.