Christmas, Again

At Christmas time, Noel – yes, that is his name – has become a temporary fixture in New York City. For the past five years, the mustachioed thirtysomething has spent the weeks leading up to Christmas living in a camper and selling trees to a festive clientele of young couples and happy families. And Noel quietly takes pride in his job: he offers only the finest tree varieties; he carefully crafts wreathes from fallen branches; and he dutifully sweeps up stray needles every night. Still, this Christmas season just isn’t the same. As Noel’s regular customers have noticed, “that nice girl,” Noel’s ex, isn’t working anymore, and goofball Nick and his expressionless girlfriend Robyn are sorry replacements. In a sort of self-flagellating act, Noel has requested to work the 12-hour night shifts. But his cold, lonesome evenings are disrupted when he happens upon Lydia, who may make this Christmas worthwhile. Based on writer-director Charles Poekel’s experiences as a tree salesman in Brooklyn, CHRISTMAS, AGAIN brings muted, mumblecore aesthetics to the holiday drama. – E.B.