The Christmas Story

Despite its title's similarity to the American wintertime perennial cinema classic, A Christmas Story, rest assured that the Finnish The Christmas Story has no leg lamps, Ovaltine secret decoders, or tongues frozen to flagpoles. This movie tells the tale of the origins of Santa Claus: Santa was an orphan who was cared for by an entire village. Each year a new household would take him in, and at Christmas, he would make gifts for the families that had cared for him in previous years. As he ages, his winter tradition grows, and he begins donning the ubiquitous red-and-white suit and hat, expanding his gift-giving range. Actually, with an orphan-turned-hero in a signature suit rising to worldwide acclaim, it sounds more like Batman Begins than a traditional Christmas movie. The Oak Street Cinema's afternoon screening is dubbed in English and probably more kid-friendly, but go to the 7 p.m. subtitled show if you want to hear the dialogue in Finnish. $4-$8. 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. December 26-28 and January 2-4. 309 Oak St. SE, Minneapolis; 612.331.3134. Through January 4
Fridays-Sundays, 4:40 & 7 p.m. Starts: Dec. 26. Continues through Jan. 4, 2008