Festive Season Commercials for Reflection
A the end of another anguishing year, I suspect that like me, many people will be pondering what there is to be festive about this Christmas?
Insightful commercials can be helpful in providing answers and some broad smiles, with timely reminders that Christmas is about paying homage to the selfless caring of friends and loved-ones, and the compassionate reaching out to fellow-travellers on life’s challenging journey.
1. Amazon, Reaching Out
Advertising Agency: Lucky Generals, London, UK
On the ‘Muse by Clio’ website, Ed Smith, General Manager of Integrated Marketing at Amazon’s European Union operations, highlighted the insight of Amazon’s festive season commercial, ‘Kindness is the greatest gift of all’;
“The past 18 months have been challenging for people across the globe, including many young adults. Our time together cannot be taken for granted. So, this year, while the world will not be totally back to normal, opportunities for kindness and human connection will take on a newfound importance.”
Masterfully directed by filmmaker Trey Edward Schults, the film scenario centres on the gratifying friendship that develops between a college student, played by Karene Peter, and an older neighbour, played by Mouna Diaye.
Feeling uneasy about the future, and cut off from the world, the student, finds solace in an unexpected gift of uplifting kindness and caring thoughtfulness.
The soundtrack features Adele’s resonant song “Hold On” from her latest album release.
2. Argos, Baubles To Last Year!
Advertising Agency: The & Partnership, London, UK
British shop and online catalogue-retailer, Argos’s 2021 integrated, multi-media, festive season campaign’s, motivationally positive message is; ‘Baubles to Last Year, Christmas is On! Let’s go big together this year’.
Directed by RÉALITÉ, the Canadian filmmaker duo of Jason Causse, and Alba Solé, the campaign revs up with a commercial depicting Christmas enthusiasts across the UK, on a determined drive to make the end of 2021, come what may, the most exciting, magical, and memorable festive yet, by going BIG.
Featuring a soundtrack of “Life is Life”, by Austrian pop-rock group Opus, the commercial is infectiously jubilant, with amusing vignettes, that are highly entertaining.
3. John Lewis & Partners, Unexpected Guest
Advertising Agency: adam&eveDDB, London, UK
The festive season advertising campaign for John Lewis & Partners, centres on the ‘Unexpected Guest’ commercial about young lad Nathan’s heart-warming close encounters of a space traveller, named Skye.
Australian filmmaker Mark Molloy, skilfully directs stellar performances from his young stars, as the story unfolds of young Skye, as seen through her eyes, discovering earthlings’ magic of Christmas.
In the film, Nathan gives Skye a departing Christmas gift of a knitted garment, replicas of which will be available in children and adult sizes, with 10% of each store-sale donated to ‘Give a Little Love’ charities.
‘Unexpected Guest’ virtual experiences will also be available via apps, and John Lewis & Partners websites.
The featured soundtrack of Philip Oakey and Giorgio Moroder’s “Together in Electric Dreams”, is performed by 20 year old rising star, singer-songwriter Lola Young, from South London.
4. Coca-Cola, Real Magic
Advertising Agency: dentsuMB, London, UK
Every year Coca-Cola’s festive season commercials are keenly awaited by families across the world. For millions of people they are the essence of ‘Christmas Spirit’.
Filmed in Hungary, at the Korda Studio in Etyek, and directed by filmmaker Sam Brown, Coca-Cola’s ‘Real Magic’ global commercial, centres on a young boy’s imaginative DIY initiative, that draws the apartment block’s occupants together, in happily assisting him.
Their enthusiastic collaboration brings them out of social seclusion, as they get to know each other with neighbourly interactions, and celebrate their newly-found spirit of joyous community.
The soundtrack features a resonant orchestral version, of the Mary Poppins film-score’s “Chim Chim Cher-ee”, by the London Metropolitan Orchestra.
5. LEGO, Rebuild The World
Advertising Agency: Lego EMEA, London, UK
LEGO’s ‘Rebuild The World’ is a playfully up-beat and joyous visual extravaganza, to end the year on.
The film scenario, brought to life by Production Company Stink Films in Paris, and directed by the Swedish filmmaking collective known as Traktor, was inspired by the wonderful imaginations of young children for whom nothing is impossible, and everything is possible.
A motivational reminder for adults about how the power of unfettered child-like imagination, can rebuild the world for a brighter tomorrow. Nothing is impossible, and everything is possible.
The narrative-driving song of the soundtrack’s, “Build Me Up Buttercup”, is by the British soul band, The Foundations.
TRAKTOR’S filmmaking team-members are; Mats Lindberg, Sam Larsson, Pontus Lowenhielm, Patrik von Krusenstjerna, Ole Sanders, and Richard Ulfvengren.
6. Littlewoods, Share The Love
Advertising Agency: Boys+Girls, Dublin, Ireland
Irish Retailer Littlewood’s commercial, ‘Share The Love This Christmas’, is endearingly focused on a young girl’s thoughtful, hand-made gift, for her Mum.
Directed by filmmaker John Hayes, the charmingly intimate interaction between Mum and daughter, emotively brings home the message that in life, love is the most precious gift you can share.
7. Online Retailer Bol.com, The Shop For Everyone
Advertising Agency: Czar, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Directed by multi-award winning Dutch filmmaker, Willem Gerritsen, Bol.com’s festive season commercial, is about the emotional reward of receiving the right present, the one you really wanted.
The charming scenario about a young boy, who is given a present of of soccer-ball, when what he really desired was a soccer-player soft toy he could hug, ends with a Christmas gift that makes his dreams come true, and an entertaining twist.