’Twas the fight to contest rights
No-one comes out looking great in this doco about how one man’s Christmas obsession turned ugly, writes James Croot.
Aman who proclaims to ‘‘love Christmas more than life itself’’, Jeremy Morris has also made it his mission to share his ‘‘holiday spirit’’ with as many people as possible.
That’s why, in 2014, the North Idaho man decided to festoon his home with as many lights and festive baubles as possible, hire a 35-voice choir and a camel and dish out hot chocolate and candy floss, donating proceeds to charity.
The public came in droves. When told that maybe he needed a permit from the city council, Morris said what he was hosting ‘‘wasn’t an event, but a Christmas miracle’’.
Either angered by potential future regulation, or buoyed by his project’s success, Morris persuaded wife Kristy that they should move to a bigger house – outside the city limits.
West Hayden Estates seemed like the perfect place, and lawyer Morris was convinced there wouldn’t be any issue in complying with the home owners’ association’s imposing tome of covenants, conditions and restrictions.
But what followed was illjudged correspondence, claims of religious persecution, covert surveillance, Right-wing group-backed security, allegations of terrorism, legal and physical threats, and increasing animosity that threatened to tear a once quiet community apart.
Director Becky Read’s headshaking, rage-inducing documentary ’Twas the Fight Before Xmas (now streaming on Apple TV+) details the whole sorry saga, as Morris decided to go to war with his neighbours, a fight that still continues to this day.
Not all of it works, but like the best/worst reality TV, it’s the schadenfreude that draws you in. No-one comes out of this looking great, but Read’s skill is in subtly – and not-so subtly – shifting our sympathies and allegiances.
At first, you’ll think Morris is a sensitive guy who wants to do good in the world. Then, gradually, it becomes clear he will childishly do whatever it takes to get his way.
In a way, this is a microcosm of what is wrong with modern-day America – as evidenced by its former president – individual freedoms are seen by many as Trumping any other laws.
Morris’ behaviour also makes a mockery of the US legal system. Because he is a lawyer, he can be as litigious as he likes, while incurring few costs (especially compared to those in opposition). He was even allowed to depose his neighbours, footage showing how he tried to turn those sessions into interrogations.
Then there was the initial trial, when a jury awarded him US$75,000, only for it to be overturned by a judge who considered Morris’ behaviour ‘‘aggressively confrontational’’ and his testimony ‘‘riddled with inconsistencies’’.
His response? Declaring America to now be ‘‘a banana republic’’, having earlier stated ‘‘there isn’t two sides to every story’’.
’Twas the Fight Before Christmas is now streaming on Apple TV+.