Charles Dickens is one of the greatest writers of the nineteenth century. He wrote many famous novels, David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, and A Tale of Two Cities, among them. His immortal work, A Christmas Carol, is the essential morality play. Bharat Nalluri, has done a fine adaptation of the nonfiction book. The film details Dickens struggle to finish the novella, in six weeks.
Charles Dickens, (Dan Stevens), has published a few books, but nothing improving his dire financial situation. He has been asked to write a Christmas story. He struggles with his unique idea. That is to write about the special day, in a different way. His struggle is made more difficult by his father, Mr. John Dickens,(Jonathan Pryce). Dickens father was never a good provider. He accumulated so much debt, that he was sent to debtors prison. This forced young Charles into the nightmare of child labor. The adult Dickens, is still haunted by it. It is fortunate that the young author has his loving wife, Kate, (Morfydd Clark). He also has three children, and another on the way.
Dickens is struggling, but finds inspiration among the London populace. One of these is a miserly business man, his inspiration for Scrooge. His main takeaway is the man’s use of the expression humbug. He creates the character, played well by Christopher Plummer. It is the interesting part of the film, when struggling Dickens is berated by his main character. Scrooge and the other characters come to life. They are mainly confusing him, with suggestions. He tries to shut them out, but it doesn’t work. Dickens in this film, runs the story by his maid. She likes the story, but is heartbroken, that Dickens, want to kill Tiny Tim. He of course relents, making Tim, a central point, of Scrooge’s redemption.
The creative process, not withstanding, Charles Dickens, perseveres. He has managed to get his book published, with illustrations. The illustrator was promised adequate compensation, by Dickens, to meet the deadline. He has with A Christmas Carol, become successful. The book was published a week before Christmas Eve. It sold out by Christmas Eve. Charles Dickens not only becomes a success, but also repairs his relationship with his father.
The Man Who Invented Christmas, is an enjoyable movie. There are a few films that detail how a book was written. This movie is able to show Dickens the man, and not the legendary author. There are many stories and books about Christmas. This is the best story, next to The story of the Nativity. The lasting legacy of A Christmas Carol, is redemption. Charles Dickens could never imagined his Ghost Tale of Christmas, would endure today. It is through it’s many theatrical versions, that people understand and feel the human condition. That is something that Dickens wrote about and understood, very well.