It’s late November, and across the country expectations for a jolly Christmas are growing, with trees being bought and lists being written, and everywhere turning more tinselly by the day.

So This is Christmas takes us on an emotional journey with five ordinary people as they navigate personal struggles, amplified by the mandatory Christmas gaiety that surrounds them. But through the challenges of their everyday lives, we discover stories of extraordinary resilience and courage.

In his signature kindly fashion, Ken Wardrop (His and Hers, Making the Grade) weaves a tapestry of ordinary Irish lives and important social commentary, filled with warmth and humour. The film explores the deeper complexities that emerge when expectations collide with reality, and will leave audiences better equipped to face into the financial, emotional, and social demands of the Christmas season.

Notes by Sunniva O’Flynn