Who would believe that a beautiful soprano voice and a reverent Christmas song could silence the bullets of three warring nations during a war? That’s exactly what happened on Christmas Eve, 1914, on a snowy World War I battlefield. Joyeux Noel (Merry Christmas), based on true events known as the Christmas Truce of 1914, is the tale of what happened that historic night and how it changed the lives of soldiers from France, Germany and England.

The weary French, Germany and English soldiers who have battled each other for months, now sit in a 3-trench triangle only yards away from each other. They’re hungry, tired, scared and have bullets whiz by their ears and strike their comrades dead.

Lieutenant Audebert’s (Guillaume Canet) troops are holed up in a French house just behind German lines and adjacent to the trench where his men fight and wait. Audebert, a quiet and humble man obviously does not believe in war. Guillaume Canet plays him with great humility, each time he sees another of his men fall, his pained expression reveals his distress. At one point he states, “We have more in common with the German soldiers than with the French politicians that are sending us off into war.”

The English, including the Scotts, are led by Officer Gordon (Alex Ferns) and allies of the French. Just as distressed as their comrades about being away from home, they have three things that set them apart, however. Their bagpipes, two brothers Jonathan (Steven Robertson) and William (Robin Laing) who are bonded like glue, and Father Palmer (Gary Lewis). The latter joined the service as a stretcher-bearer -- and at least brings some semblance of normalcy to the men.

German Officer Horstmayer (Daniel Brühl) reminds his men the game is all war. Conversely, they are all surprised when each one receives a Christmas tree sent to the front line complete with lights (not sure how this worked). Yet one of their biggest assets is Nicholas Sprink (Benno Fürmann), a famous German tenor who was drafted. He sneaks away one night and spends the night with his girlfriend, Anna Sörensen (Diane Kruger), who sings (singing voice, Natalie Dessay) alongside him in the opera. The next morning, Christmas Eve, he insists he must return to his regiment. Anna demands to go with him to help the morale of the soldiers.

By the time they arrive that evening, somewhat of an unexpected peace-fire has fallen over the compound. As Nicholas begins to sing (singing voice, Rolando Villazón) “Silent Night,” the Scottish bagpipers change their song to accompany him. A mood of peace and reverence cloak the German soldiers as each ones sets his Christmas three atop the trench, creating a line with a glorious glow. Men pop up their heads all around and one by one step to the center of the encampment as Father Palmer begins a round of “O Come All Ye Faithful.” Suddenly the troops are intermingled, sharing French wine, German chocolate, arguing over who owns the cat that roams from trench to trench, and eventually playing a game of soccer together.

It’s heartfelt, and tearful for some, to see the men’s reactions to one another as they realize they are not evil warriors who only want to trade bullets, but normal guys who wish to go back home and live out their lives in peace.

By the next day, the three countries’ officers go one step more. They call a truce on Christmas Day so they can gather up the dead men frozen in the snow and properly bury them. It’s clear that if these officers had the power to end the war, it might have happened right there and then. But they each have a superior officer who does not see things this way, and even some who threatened treason to these men for their actions.

French Director Christian Carion grew up on a farm in Northern France and knew full well about the significant war fought there. When he decided to research the war, he discovered the book Battles of Flanders and Artois 1914-1918 by Yves Buffetaut, which included passages about “The Incredible Winter of 1914.” After several years of researching French, German and English records of that time, Carion had enough insight into what really happened and its significance.

Carion’s use of an international cast who each speak in their own native tongue helps create an authenticity about Joyeux Noel that’s terrific and enjoyable. The movie has won many foreign awards and is an Oscar and Golden Globe nomination for Best Foreign Language Film of the Year. It’s rare to leave a theater and think about a film for days after, but that’s exactly what happens after seeing this profoundly touching and uplifting movie.

(Released by Sony Pictures Classics and rated “R” for some war violence and brief sexuality.)

Read Diana Saenger's reviews of classic films at http://classicfilm.about.com.