The Christmas Tree
The Christmas Tree
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Watch-outs
What this film brings
Content barometer
Violence
2/5
Moderate
Fear
2/5
A few scenes
Sexuality
0/5
None
Language
0/5
None
Narrative complexity
3/5
Complex
Adult themes
0/5
None
Expert review
This family Christmas film has a warm and gentle atmosphere, yet its story is built around a very heavy subject for young viewers, a child becoming seriously ill after an accident involving a military plane and an atomic bomb. The sensitive material is mainly emotional, including a leukemia diagnosis, repeated references to the boy's deceased mother, the idea that his time may be limited, plus an explosion scene and several moments of sadness. The visual intensity appears fairly mild and there is no strong graphic violence, however the emotional weight is central to the narrative and may be upsetting for children who understand illness and death. These themes are not isolated, they shape the father and son's journey throughout the film. Parents may want to watch alongside younger children, explain the medical and loss related themes in simple terms, and frame the movie as a moving holiday drama rather than a carefree seasonal story.
Synopsis
A story about a forming friendship between an elderly nun, Sister Anthony, and New York's Rockefeller Center's head landscape architect Richard Reilly, who wants to fell a tree she's been growing for decades and move it to New York for Christmas display.
Difficult scenes
Early in the story, a father and his son witness a military plane exploding at sea. Even if the scene is not described as graphic, the idea of an aircraft explosion and a dropped atomic bomb may unsettle children who are sensitive to accidents and sudden danger. Soon after this event, the child is told that he has leukemia caused by radiation exposure. This section can be especially hard for young viewers, because adults speak clearly about serious illness and limited time, giving the film a sustained sense of sadness. The story also reminds viewers that the boy's mother died in an accident before the main events. Her absence weighs on the narrative and may affect children who are sensitive to grief, especially as the father then tries to make every remaining moment special. Part of the plot focuses on the father's efforts to grant all of his son's wishes in the context of illness. These scenes are often loving and tender, yet they may also lead children to ask difficult questions about death, separation, and a child's suffering.
Where to watch
No verified platform for the US market yet. We keep this section updated as availability changes.
Availability checked on Apr 01, 2026
About this title
- Format
- Feature film
- Year
- 1996
- Runtime
- 1h 33m
- Countries
- United States of America
- Original language
- EN
- Studios
- Fogwell Films, Walt Disney Television
Content barometer
Violence
2/5
Moderate
Fear
2/5
A few scenes
Sexuality
0/5
None
Language
0/5
None
Narrative complexity
3/5
Complex
Adult themes
0/5
None
Expert review
This family Christmas film has a warm and gentle atmosphere, yet its story is built around a very heavy subject for young viewers, a child becoming seriously ill after an accident involving a military plane and an atomic bomb. The sensitive material is mainly emotional, including a leukemia diagnosis, repeated references to the boy's deceased mother, the idea that his time may be limited, plus an explosion scene and several moments of sadness. The visual intensity appears fairly mild and there is no strong graphic violence, however the emotional weight is central to the narrative and may be upsetting for children who understand illness and death. These themes are not isolated, they shape the father and son's journey throughout the film. Parents may want to watch alongside younger children, explain the medical and loss related themes in simple terms, and frame the movie as a moving holiday drama rather than a carefree seasonal story.
Synopsis
A story about a forming friendship between an elderly nun, Sister Anthony, and New York's Rockefeller Center's head landscape architect Richard Reilly, who wants to fell a tree she's been growing for decades and move it to New York for Christmas display.
Difficult scenes
Early in the story, a father and his son witness a military plane exploding at sea. Even if the scene is not described as graphic, the idea of an aircraft explosion and a dropped atomic bomb may unsettle children who are sensitive to accidents and sudden danger. Soon after this event, the child is told that he has leukemia caused by radiation exposure. This section can be especially hard for young viewers, because adults speak clearly about serious illness and limited time, giving the film a sustained sense of sadness. The story also reminds viewers that the boy's mother died in an accident before the main events. Her absence weighs on the narrative and may affect children who are sensitive to grief, especially as the father then tries to make every remaining moment special. Part of the plot focuses on the father's efforts to grant all of his son's wishes in the context of illness. These scenes are often loving and tender, yet they may also lead children to ask difficult questions about death, separation, and a child's suffering.