RARE EXPORTS: A CHRISTMAS TALE opens Dec 17 in Berkeley December 17, 2010

Oscilloscope Laboratories presents RARE EXPORTS: A CHRISTMAS TALE, opening December 17, 2010 at Landmark’s Lumiere Theatre in San Francisco, and Landmark’s Shattuck Cinemas in Berkeley.

It's the eve of Christmas in northern Finland, and an 'archeological' dig has just unearthed the real Santa Claus. But this particular Santa isn’t the one you want coming to town. When the local children begin mysteriously disappearing, young Pietari and his father Rauno, a reindeer hunter by trade, capture the mythological being and attempt to sell Santa to the misguided leader of the multinational corporation sponsoring the dig. Santa's elves, however, will stop at nothing to free their fearless leader from captivity. What ensues is a wildly humorous nightmare – a fantastically bizarre polemic on modern day morality.

RARE EXPORTS: A CHRISTMAS TALE is a re-imagining of the most classic of all childhood fantasies, and is a darkly comic gem soon to be required perennial holiday viewing. Written and directed by Jalmari Helander.

The Krampus and Santa Claus - Steeped in the lore of Pre-Christian Alpine traditions, the children of Northern Europe were told that if they lived a life of purity, St. Nicholas would bestow gifts and treats upon them during the frozen month of December. Unlike the archetypical modern Santa Claus, however, the bishop-robed Nicholas refrained from punishing the naughty children, instead parceling out the task to a ghastly helper from below – the demonic Krampus. Now, with The Krampus being introduced to a whole new generation, the world has the chance to re-discover one of Christmas’ oldest and cruelest characters: an age old devil – now hidden deep inside the joyous Santa Claus – who still holds court over his ancient, frozen holiday.
http://www.oscilloscope.net/shop/view_film.php?ID=41&r=gallery
http://www.rareexportsmovie.com/en (international site)

Winner Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography - Sitges Film Festival

The film’s running time is 80 minutes; it is not rated. In Finnish and English; Finnish portions subtitled in English.
It's the eve of Christmas in northern Finland, and an 'archeological' dig has just unearthed the real Santa Claus. But this particular Santa isn’t the one you want coming to town. When the local children begin mysteriously disappearing, young Pietari and his father Rauno, a reindeer hunter by trade, capture the mythological being and attempt to sell Santa to the misguided leader of the multinational corporation sponsoring the dig. Santa's elves, however, will stop at nothing to free their fearless leader from captivity. What ensues is a wildly humorous nightmare – a fantastically bizarre polemic on modern day morality.

RARE EXPORTS: A CHRISTMAS TALE is a re-imagining of the most classic of all childhood fantasies, and is a darkly comic gem soon to be required perennial holiday viewing. Written and directed by Jalmari Helander.

The Krampus and Santa Claus - Steeped in the lore of Pre-Christian Alpine traditions, the children of Northern Europe were told that if they lived a life of purity, St. Nicholas would bestow gifts and treats upon them during the frozen month of December. Unlike the archetypical modern Santa Claus, however, the bishop-robed Nicholas refrained from punishing the naughty children, instead parceling out the task to a ghastly helper from below – the demonic Krampus. Now, with The Krampus being introduced to a whole new generation, the world has the chance to re-discover one of Christmas’ oldest and cruelest characters: an age old devil – now hidden deep inside the joyous Santa Claus – who still holds court over his ancient, frozen holiday.
http://www.oscilloscope.net/shop/view_film.php?ID=41&r=gallery
http://www.rareexportsmovie.com/en (international site)

Winner Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography - Sitges Film Festival

The film’s running time is 102 minutes; it is not rated. In Finnish and English; Finnish portions subtitled in English.

Official Website: http://www.landmarktheatres.com/Films/films_frameset.asp?id=96455