Prismark10 Lost Christmas is a sad, melancholy and twisted tale of damaged and seemingly unconnected people in the city of Manchester.'Goose' is a 10 year old boy who on Christmas Eve hides his fireman dad's car keys in the hope that he will not go to work at Christmas. However his mum drives him to work and both are killed in a car accident.A year later, Goose is no longer the bright ten year old kid but a more streetwise kid who is supporting his grandmother through petty crime. A mysterious man appears out of nowhere. He calls himself Anthony, he has no recollection of who he is, where he came from. He can find things that are lost.It sounds like a bleak tale for Christmas, particularly one aimed at families but it is a story about redemption and second chances. Like a ripple on a pond cause by the throwing of a pebble, you find that the various tragedies that befalls various characters are somehow interconnected. Maybe Anthony can find some sort of solace for the lost people around him but can he turn back time?It may lack the usual Christmas sentimentality that this type of films usually have but it also lacks the cynicism but is realistic enough to connect to today's kids.

didi-5 With all the hype about 'Lost Christmas' I came to it without high expectations, especially after seeing Eddie Izzard in previous dramas and not rating him that highly. However, in the role of the mysterious Anthony, a mystical man of magic without a sense of place, he seems to have found an ideal vehicle for his quirky talent.We first meet Anthony when Frank (Jason Flemyng) comes across him on a deserted Manchester pavement where the lights mysteriously go on and off. Wearing a name badge on his coat, he has no memory of his life other than an ability to see what others have lost.Tied in with Frank's story is that of the young thief Goose, who has still coming to terms with the horrible events of last Christmas, spending time with his dog, Mutt.Taking some inspiration from 'The Christmas Carol' and 'It's a Wonderful Life', this drama weaves together a number of connected stories and situations over an hour and a half running time. It also has a satisfying, although not entirely joyful, twist.This show could become an enduring classic of Christmas, and if it did, it would be deserved. Well worth a look.

Hatchorder There will be those who are critical of the over simplified message of this film, those who feel that Eddie Izzard was not the right person to play the key role but I think that they are over complicating this.A seasonal film that has you laughing, crying and puzzled in equal measure until the ending glues it all back together. So many threads that in the end all make sense and the parts played by Eddie Izzard, Jason Flemyng and Geoffrey Palmer are stand out for me. The young lad who plays Goose either is a natural, or took direction superbly.There is only one section that is not researched well, and you will know it when you see it, but that is forgivable to an extent because the rest of the film is so good.Deserves awards and should become a Christmas Classic every year from now on.Enjoy it with a glass of wine, cuddled up on the couch with the kids and a box of tissues. Children over the age of 12 will understand all the themes, children under that age will still understand the main theme of the film.

deaduncleted Reasonably well done. Pretty well acted with an originalish take on a Christmas Carol. Eddie Izzard did seem to be playing a toned down version of his stand up piece, and that led to the piece not knowing if it was serious or light hearted. The boy was excellent, as was the uncle, and as always, Geoffrey Palmer, despite his part being so small. The issue I had was the playing of the Grandmother's dementia for laughs. Putting the turkey in the washing machine, buttering Christmas cards; all showed a lack of respect, and most likely a team of writers who have no idea of the difficulties of the disease. It really spoiled an otherwise decent piece. Shame.